Oakland's Scott McDevitt and Kansas City's Don Ward were to get together for their American
League Division Series, but Netplay wouldn't cooperate, so Scott asked me to step in to run his
A's, and I was flattered to be asked to helm his team and host this postseason series on Netplay.
Even if the A's had just come off a sound 3-1 beating of the Indians in the wild-card series.
Pretty trustworthy there, Scott!
Game 1: A's (Gerrit Cole, 17-6, 3.53) at Royals (Jakob Junis, 15-10, 3.43)
Oakland threatens early, getting the first two men of the game on before Michael Conforto lines
out and Anthony Rendon lines into an unassisted double play at second base, doubling up Andrew
McCutchen. The Royals manage a couple of two-out rallies in the first two innings, scoring a run
in the second on three straight singles, from Neil Walker, Amed Rosario and David Fletcher. Michael
Conforto responds with a two-run homer in the top of the third to score Jose Altuve, and Yonder
Alonso hits a two-run bomb of his own in the top of the sixth. With a "comfortable" three-run lead,
the A's lift Gerrit Cole after five innings and 74 pitches with the intention of bringing him back
on short rest in Game 4 if necessary and bring in designated long man Junior Guerra, who struggled
during the season to the tune of 6-11, 5.69. The move looks brilliant for five perfect outs before
David Fletcher singles. Oakland decides it's pressed its luck enough and brings in Brad Hand to face
Kevin Kiermaier, who greets him with a first-pitch homer to make it 4-3 before A.J. Pollock strikes
out to end the seventh. Oakland responds with some lefty-on-lefty violence of its own in the top of
the eighth when Conforto hits his second homer of the game, a solo shot off the just-entered Chasen
Shreve, to make it 5-3. Oakland adds a run in the ninth when soon-to-depart A's mainstay Adrian
Beltre triples and Gorkys Hernandez hits a sacrifice fly to send him in. With a three-run lead Daniel
Hudson is summoned in the bottom of the ninth; after two outs on three pitches, he gives up a single
to Rosario and a run-scoring double to Fletcher, and with the tying run at the plate in Kiermaier,
closer Edwin Diaz is summoned. Kiermaier flies out to right to end it. A's 6-4, lead series 1-0.
10/5/2019, Oak19-KCR19, Kauffman Stadium
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2019 Athletics 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 1 1 6 7 0 2 0
2019 Royals 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 4 10 0 7 2
Athletics AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB
McCutchen rf 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 1 0 0 0
Altuve 2b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 2 2 0 0
Conforto lf 4 2 2 3 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 2 0 0 0
Rendon 3b 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 1 0 0
Alonso,Y 1b 3 1 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 6 2 0 0
Beltre dh 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0
Hernandez,G cf 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 3 0 0 0
Sucre c 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 10 0 0 0
Russell ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 3 0 0
Cole,G p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0
Guerra,Ju p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Hand p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Soria p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0
Hudson,Dan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Diaz,Ed p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
31 6 7 6 0 1 3 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 27 8 0 0
Royals AB R H BI D T HR BB K SB CS IW HP SH SF AVG PO A E PB
Fletcher 3b 5 1 4 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .800 0 3 0 0
Kiermaier cf 4 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250 3 0 0 0
Pollock rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 0 0 0
Upton lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 1 0 0 0
LeMahieu 2b 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 5 4 0 0
Semien ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 1 4 0 0
Gomes c 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 6 0 0 0
Walker,N 1b 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 10 0 0 0
Rosario,A dh 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 0 0 0 0
Junis p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Biddle p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Otero p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
Shreve p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0
36 4 10 4 1 0 1 1 10 0 0 0 0 1 0 27 11 0 0
Athletics INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA
Cole,G W 1-0 5.0 6 1 1 1 7 74 50 22 0 0 0 0 0 1.80
Guerra,Ju H 1 1.2 1 1 1 0 1 22 14 6 0 0 0 0 0 5.40
Hand H 1 0.2 1 1 1 0 2 9 7 3 1 0 0 0 0 13.50
Soria H 1 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 9 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Hudson,Dan H 1 0.2 2 1 1 0 0 10 8 4 0 0 0 0 0 13.50
Diaz,Ed S 1 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
9.0 10 4 4 1 10 129 86 38 1 0 0 0 0
Royals INN H R ER BB K PCH STR BF HR IW HP WP DP ERA
Junis L 0-1 5.0 4 3 3 3 3 75 45 20 1 0 0 0 1 5.40
Biddle 2.0 1 1 1 0 2 28 18 7 1 0 0 0 0 4.50
Otero 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 6 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Shreve 1.1 2 2 2 0 1 21 14 6 1 0 0 0 0 13.50
9.0 7 6 6 3 6 130 81 35 3 0 0 0 1
GWRBI: Conforto
Temperature: 73, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: right to left at 14 MPH.
10/5/2019, Oak19-KCR19, Kauffman Stadium
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2019 Athletics 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 1 1 6 7 0 2 0
2019 Royals 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 4 10 0 7 2
Athletics -----A------ -----B------ -----C------ -----D------ -----E------
McCutchen rf 1>S W k 8>Otero
43
Altuve 2b W.1-2 k 6>S 63
Conforto lf 4/L HR.1-H Biddle Shreve
k HR
Rendon 3b note 1 53 54/f.B-1 63
Alonso,Y 1b 2>7 4>W HR.1-H 9>53
Beltre dh S 643/gdp 8 T
Hernandez,G cf k 9 7>63 8/SF.3-H
Sucre c 6 5>3 8 k
Russell ss 3>43 43 k
1: 4/ldp.2x2(4)
Royals -----A------ -----B------ -----C------ -----D------ -----E------
Fletcher 3b 1>63 S.3-H;1-2 5>S S D.1-H
Kiermaier cf k k 34/SH.1-2 Hand Diaz,Ed
HR.1-H 9
Pollock rf W 3>3/g k k
Upton lf S.1-2 k 5/L 8>k
LeMahieu 2b k 7 6>Guerra,Ju Soria
8 31
Semien ss 2>k 4>53 k 4
Gomes c 63 k 8 9>Hudson,Dan
7
Walker,N 1b S S 7>43 63
Rosario,A dh S.1-3 41 8 S
Athletics IN OUT ER Royals IN OUT ER
Cole,G A1 C4 1 W 1-0 Junis A1 C2 3 L 0-1
Guerra,Ju C5 D1 1 H 1 Biddle C3 C9 1
Hand D2 D4 1 H 1 Otero D1 D2 0
Soria D5 D6 0 H 1 Shreve D3 D8 2
Hudson,Dan D7 E1 1 H 1
Diaz,Ed E2 E2 0 S 1
10/5/2019, Oak19-KCR19, Kauffman Stadium
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP
2019 Athletics 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 1 1 6 7 0 2 0
2019 Royals 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 4 10 0 7 2
Score O Rnr BS Event
----- - --- -- -----
************** Top of the 1st inning, Athletics batting
0-0 0 --- 00 McCutchen grounded a single between first and second (X)
0-0 0 1-- 32 Altuve walked, McCutchen to second (BBSSBFB)
0-0 0 12- 21 Conforto lined out to second (BBSX)
0-0 1 12- 32 Rendon lined into a double play, LeMahieu unassisted,
McCutchen out at second (CSBBFBX)
************** Bottom of the 1st inning, Royals batting
0-0 0 --- 01 Fletcher grounded out to short (FX)
0-0 1 --- 22 Kiermaier struck out (BSBCS)
0-0 2 --- 31 Pollock walked (BBBCB)
0-0 2 1-- 22 Upton reached on an infield single to short, Pollock to
second (1BpCBCFX)
0-0 2 12- 12 LeMahieu struck out (BFSS)
************** Top of the 2nd inning, Athletics batting
0-0 0 --- 10 Alonso,Y flied out to left (BX)
0-0 1 --- 11 Beltre lined a single to shallow left (SBX)
0-0 1 1-- 32 Hernandez,G struck out (CFBBBS)
0-0 2 1-- 01 Sucre popped out to short (CX)
************** Bottom of the 2nd inning, Royals batting
0-0 0 --- 12 Semien struck out (CFFBS)
0-0 1 --- 00 Gomes grounded out to short (X)
0-0 2 --- 10 Walker,N grounded a single between first and second (BX)
0-0 2 1-- 22 Rosario,A singled to left center, Walker,N to third
(BCBCX)
0-0 2 1-3 21 Fletcher lined a single to shallow center, Walker,N
scored, Rosario,A to second (FBBX)
0-1 2 12- 02 Kiermaier struck out (CSC)
************** Top of the 3rd inning, Athletics batting
0-1 0 --- 11 Russell grounded out to second (BCX)
0-1 1 --- 31 McCutchen walked (BFBBB)
0-1 1 1-- 02 Altuve struck out (>FCC)
0-1 2 1-- 20 Conforto homered deep to right, McCutchen scored (BBX)
2-1 2 --- 01 Rendon grounded out to third (FX)
************** Bottom of the 3rd inning, Royals batting
2-1 0 --- 12 Pollock grounded out to first (CBCX)
2-1 1 --- 12 Upton struck out (CBSS)
2-1 2 --- 00 LeMahieu lined out to left (X)
************** Top of the 4th inning, Athletics batting
2-1 0 --- 31 Alonso,Y walked (SBBBB)
2-1 0 1-- 01 Beltre grounded into a double play, Semien to LeMahieu to
Walker,N (CX)
2-1 2 --- 32 Hernandez,G flied out to right (CBCBFBX)
************** Bottom of the 4th inning, Royals batting
2-1 0 --- 00 Semien grounded out to third (X)
2-1 1 --- 02 Gomes struck out (SCC)
2-1 2 --- 11 Walker,N reached on an infield single to third (SBX)
2-1 2 1-- 00 Rosario,A grounded out to second (X)
************** Top of the 5th inning, Athletics batting
2-1 0 --- 12 Sucre popped out to first (FCBX)
2-1 1 --- 01 Russell grounded out to second (CX)
2-1 2 --- 02 McCutchen struck out (FSS)
************** Bottom of the 5th inning, Royals batting
2-1 0 --- 00 Fletcher lined a single to shallow left (X)
2-1 0 1-- 11 Kiermaier sacrifice bunted to first, Fletcher to second
(1FbBbpXb)
2-1 1 -2- 32 Pollock struck out (BCBBSS)
2-1 2 -2- 22 Upton lined out to third (BSBSX)
************** Top of the 6th inning, Athletics batting
2-1 0 --- 12 Altuve lined a single to left (BFCX)
Biddle now pitching
2-1 0 1-- 22 Conforto struck out (BBFCC)
2-1 1 1-- 12 Rendon grounded to third, forcing Altuve at second,
Rendon to first (BCSX)
2-1 2 1-- 21 Alonso,Y homered deep to right, Rendon scored (BSBX)
4-1 2 --- 01 Beltre flied out to center (CX)
************** Bottom of the 6th inning, Royals batting
Guerra,Ju now pitching
4-1 0 --- 10 LeMahieu popped out to center (BX)
4-1 1 --- 32 Semien struck out (BBFSBC)
4-1 2 --- 22 Gomes flied out to center (BCCBFX)
************** Top of the 7th inning, Athletics batting
4-1 0 --- 21 Hernandez,G grounded out to short (CBBX)
4-1 1 --- 21 Sucre flied out to center (SBBX)
4-1 2 --- 12 Russell struck out (SCBFS)
************** Bottom of the 7th inning, Royals batting
4-1 0 --- 01 Walker,N grounded out to second (CX)
4-1 1 --- 00 Rosario,A flied out to center (X)
4-1 2 --- 22 Fletcher grounded a single up the middle (BBCFX)
Hand now pitching
4-1 2 1-- 00 Kiermaier homered deep to right, Fletcher scored (X)
4-3 2 --- 12 Pollock struck out (BFSS)
************** Top of the 8th inning, Athletics batting
Otero now pitching
4-3 0 --- 21 McCutchen grounded out to second (BBCX)
4-3 1 --- 01 Altuve grounded out to short (CX)
Shreve now pitching
4-3 2 --- 11 Conforto homered deep to right center (SBX)
5-3 2 --- 10 Rendon grounded out to short (BX)
************** Bottom of the 8th inning, Royals batting
5-3 0 --- 12 Upton struck out (BSFS)
Soria now pitching
5-3 1 --- 21 LeMahieu grounded out to first (SBBX)
5-3 2 --- 31 Semien popped out to second (BBBCX)
************** Top of the 9th inning, Athletics batting
5-3 0 --- 01 Alonso,Y grounded out to third (SX)
5-3 1 --- 22 Beltre lined a triple down the right field line (BBCFX)
5-3 1 --3 02 Hernandez,G hit a sacrifice fly to center, Beltre scored
(FbSX)
6-3 2 --- 32 Sucre struck out (SBCBBS)
************** Bottom of the 9th inning, Royals batting
Hudson,Dan now pitching
6-3 0 --- 00 Gomes flied out to left (X)
6-3 1 --- 01 Walker,N grounded out to short (CX)
6-3 2 --- 11 Rosario,A lined a single between first and second (BCX)
6-3 2 1-- 12 Fletcher lined a double to left center, Rosario,A scored
(BSFX)
Diaz,Ed now pitching
6-4 2 -2- 22 Kiermaier flied out to right (BCFBX)