A's 4, Angels 3

Frank Thomas did it in his first at-bat. Mike Piazza did it at a crucial point in a game against a division rival.

For the past two seasons now, we've had the luxury of having future Hall of Famers hitting in the cleanup spot as the A's designated hitters. And like Thomas before him, Piazza hit his official "Welcome to Oakland" home run in dramatic fashion.

It's always an intense atmosphere when the A's and Angels play each other. It doesn't matter if it's April or September. It was only the fourth game of the season, but I was still sitting at the edge of my chair, intently watching the game on my computer screen, with that old familiar knot-in-my-stomach feeling that comes from A's/Angels matchups.

And when K-Rod came into the game in the 9th with the score tied at 3, and I saw who was due up for the A's in the inning, I thought to myself, "This would be a nice time for Piazza to hit one out." I don't want to say I called it, because I didn't say it out loud to any witnesses, but I swear - I thought it.

So when he hit it out, as I knew he could and knew he should, it just felt right. I have officially embraced Michael Joseph Piazza as an Oakland Athletic.

Overshadowed by Piazza's heroics is Chad Gaudin, who filled in nicely in a spot start, with two runs and five hits allowed in five innings pitched. I would think Bob Geren will have no trouble giving him the ball again next Tuesday against the White Sox.

Tonight we get a look at our fifth starter, Joe Kennedy, who saved his spot with one good outing at the end of spring training.

GO A'S!!