Santana vs. Gaudin

Well, I think I can consider myself officially activated from the DL, as I have high speed internet in my new house and the A's schedule posted on the wall.

When I saw the scheduled matchup for today, I knew I had to make sure to watch it. Yet, the A's still haven't gotten Sunday Night Baseball yet this year and we're getting Yankees/Red Sox for the 1,000,000,0000,000th time. Lucky for me I have MLB.tv and can still watch. This would have been a good one for ESPN but instead John Miller and Joe Morgan will be salivating over Derek Jeter again. Oh well.

I've decided to live blog throughout this game, so hopefully I'm not jinxing Chad Gaudin by doing so.

With five minutes until first pitch, here are the lineups:

YOUR Oakland Athletics

Stewart LF
Ellis 2B
Swisher RF
Johnson 1B
Chavez 3B
Crosby SS
Cust DH
Kotsay CF
Kendall C

THEIR Minnesota Twins

Castillo 2B
Punto 3B
Cuddyer RF
Morneau 1B
Hunter CF
Redmond C
Kubel LF
Bartlett SS
Tyner DH

Gotta love when the other team has the DH hitting 9th. GO A'S!!!

End of the 1st inning, A's 1, Twins 0

Both pitchers got out of jams with double plays, but the A's managed to score in their frame. Hopefully this isn't another appearance of the first inning A's!

Middle of the 3rd, A's 1, Twins 0

Well Gaudin has pitched out of a few jams. It's nice to see a goose-egg in the visitors' column, but I'm nervous about the inevitable relying on the bullpen that will come in the late innings of this game.

End of 3rd, A's 4, Twins 0

The A's score three (one unearned) off mighty Johan to pad their lead. Today's A's are not the first inning A's!

Top of the 6th, A's 4, Twins 2

A's clinging to a two-run lead and Gaudin is getting the hook. It's the bullpen's game now.

Middle of the 7th, A's 4, Twins 2

A's hanging on thanks to some stellar pitching by new callup Santiago Casilla. Would Jay Witasick have done that? A thought to ponder...

Middle of the 8th, A's 4, Twins 2

After an 8th inning by committee, the A's will go into the 9th with a lead! A few more runs before we get there wouldn't hurt though!

FINAL - A's 4, Twins 2

Embree closes it out and the A's win!!