A’s Dramatic Win Gives Them Share of AL West Lead
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OAKLAND, Calif. – Ichiro Suzuki went home quietly, still waiting for the big hit he’s been chasing.
Bobby Crosby sent the Athletics into a decisive weekend series against Ana heim with the biggest hit of Oakland’s season.
Suzuki got his 256th hit to move within one of George Sisler’s record, but Crosby homered in the ninth inning to give the A’s a 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners yesterday.
With yet another dramatic hit by their rookie shortstop, the A’s (90-69) moved back into a tie with the Angels atop the AL West. And there won’t be a one-game playoff, either: The division champion will be determined in a season-ending three-game series at the Coliseum.
After fouling off a bunt attempt in the ninth, Crosby pounded a one-out pitch from Scott Atchison (2-3) over the high fence in left for his 22nd homer.
With his grandparents in the screaming crowd, Crosby raised his fist and rounded the bases. His teammates mobbed him at home plate in a scene reminiscent of the A’s triumphant winning streaks of Septembers past.
Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a run-scoring single in the third, pulling Seattle’s superb leadoff hitter within one hit of tying Sisler’s 84-year-old record of 257.
Suzuki went just 1-for-5 and made the Mariners’ final out, striking out against Octavio Dotel (6-2) in the ninth – but he’ll have plenty of chances to surpass the mark in a three-game series against the Texas Rangers back home at Safeco Field.
Jermaine Dye also homered for the A’s, who fell out of first place Wednesday night for the first time since August 5. Dye hit his 23rd homer in the fourth, but Miguel Olivo doubled and scored on Randy Winn’s single in the fifth.