What's That You Say, the Oakland A's Defense Showed Up?

The Oakland Athletics defense this year has been less than stellar at the start of the season. Well that changed today and it's definitely the reason why the A's were able to win 4-2.

The defense saved three pitchers, the first being Dallas Braden, who would have lost his victory if the A's defense hadn't made these plays. The second pitcher is of course Russ Springer. The third would have been Michael Wuertz.

The first play was not really a game changing even, but it was a very solid play at third base. Bobby Crosby made a diving effort at third on a sold hit ball by Ian Kinsler, and Crosby was also able to handle the high bounce get up from his dive and throw out Kinsler.

The game changing play happened later on in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs. The Rangers had two runners on when Ian Kinsler hit a ball to pretty much dead center. It looked like it was going to be a game changing three run homer to give the Texas Rangers a 4-3 lead.

It wasn't going to happen though, because Ryan Sweeney said "I don't think so". Sweeney made a great catch by being able to track the ball, jump and using his 6'5 frame to catch the ball over the wall for the third out of the inning.

Russ Springer who was on the mound at that time was probably thinking to himself, "oh no, I already gave up a solo homerun, now I have given up a three run homer and the lead."

Luckily for the A's that wasn't the case, because Sweeney made the terrific play. All Ian Kinsler could do is throw down his helmet in frustration and tip his hat to Sweeney for making such a great play.

Michael Wuertz, filling in for closer Brad Ziegler who was sick, had a rocky first save chance but again the defense came through for him.

The first tremendous defensive play was by short-stop Orlando Cabrera, who almost missed time his jump on a screaming line drive by Marlon Byrd. That definitely saved a run if that ball hadn’t been caught by Cabrera.

Michael Young, who was the next batter up, hit a long fly ball to left field that Matt Holliday went all the way to the wall to try to jump for. But he missed and it looked like an easy double for Young.

Yet, Young tried legging out a triple, and Holliday's throw from left barely got the sliding young into third base. So, if Byrd had reached the Rangers would have been trailing 4-2, but since both plays were made it kept the score at 4-1.

Again it was good news for Wuertz because Andrew Jones hit a solo homerun to make the score 4-2, but Wuertz was able to strike out Hank Blalock to end the game.

Offensively the A's didn't do much either. They had their chances along with the Rangers. The A's had a bases loaded situation with no outs but only came up with three runs. A walked in run by Eddie Guardado and two sacrifice flies allowed by Jason Jennings.

The A's were able to get another run in the top of the ninth when Matt Holliday connected for his first homerun as an A. Hopefully with that swing it heats Holliday up.