A's 4, Angels 3

So far, so good on this road trip. After awaking the lumber with 12 runs Monday night, the A's pulled out another win in the Escobar vs. DiNardo matchup that very much favored the Angels on paper.

But, the games aren't played on paper. Paper wouldn't have had Lenny DiNardo continuing his improbably success with another 6 2/3 innings pitched, 3-hit performance. Paper wouldn't have had Travis Buck making a game-saving, diving catch in the 8th inning. Paper probably would've had Bobby Crosby getting hurt, but sometimes paper is right.

Buck really won this game. He knocked in three of the four runs and made what could possibly be the catch of the year for the A's, diving to rob Gary Matthews Jr. of a likely 2-RBI double with the A's clinging to a one-run lead in the 8th. How much do you love this guy? I know I love him a heck of a lot, even if he did shave his head.

The A's haven't swept a series since June 8-10 in San Francisco. They have a chance to do it today, to gain ground in a division race in which they still have a pulse.

Joe Blanton takes the hill against John Lackey this afternoon. There's something about Lackey in a weekday day game in Anaheim that just brings back memories and gets me a little extra fired up. The only question is, now that Jason Kendall is gone, who is going to "stick that thing out there?"

GO A's!!!