A's sweep Bombers to make run at division flag

GAME  1 – Oakland Coliseum

Bahnsen (3-5) vs Zito (2-0)

A’s 3, Yankees 2

New York jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first courtesy of a Thurman Munson 2 out 2 run double that scored Moose Skowron and Roberto (don’t call me Bobby) Kelly.  Oakland answered back 3 innings later to tie it with a 1 out 2 run single by Ben Grieve, which was aided by a Tony Kubek error at the hot corner.  Grieve wasn’t done damaging Bronx pitching.  In the bottom of the 6^th he would single home the would be winning run to make it 3-2.  Barry Zito recovered nicely from his shaky first inning to post goose eggs for the following 6 before handing the ball over to Steve Ontiveros, who got the next 4 outs.  Ontiveros, Bob Lacey and Huston Street (3^rd Save) combined to finish out the game by holding the Yanks scoreless.

GAME 2

Grim (1-3) vs Blanton (3-3)

A’s 7, Yankees 2

Once again the boys in pinstriped suits jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first.  The A’s didn’t get on the board until the bottom of the 6^th when they scored a solo run.  Grim looked firmly in the driver’s seat until the A’s unleashed a 6 run barrage that chased Grim from the hill and battered his replacement Phil Coke.  A three run blast off the bat of Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, served notice that the A’s were playing for a date in the postseason.

GAME 3 – Yankee Stadium

Archer vs F.Peterson

A’s 7, Yankees 5

For the 3^rd consecutive game the road team scored 2 runs in the top of the first, but unlike those first 2 the road team did not lose.  New York did answer back with 5 run in the next 2 innings to go up by 3, but the A’s fired back with 4 in the 6^th and an insurance run in the 8^th to put the Bombers away.  After an ineffective 2 1/3 innings to start the game Jim Archer was sent to the showers.  4 Oakland relievers gave up just 1 run over the final 6 2/3 innings.  Rickey Henderson and Yeonis Cespedes both had 3 hit games.  Rickey stole his 8^th base of the season in limited action.

GAME 4

Nash (3-2) vs Downing (1-1)

New York had their bags packed and their team bus warming up on this getaway game.  Oakland was looking to steal 1 more win to gain a series sweep in order to challenge the Chisox for the AL Charter division title.  The game stayed close until the top of the 5^th when the A’s posted 4 big runs.  It went downhill quickly for New York afterward.  Jim Nash went 7 strong innings to get the win and Jim “Catfish” Hunter threw a scoreless final 2 for the A’s.  Both Henderson and Yeonis Cespedes paced Oakland’s offense for the second consecutive day.  Cespedes had 3 RBI’s including a homer.  Slumping Jose Canseco walked 3 times and got 1 hit, which enabled him to get 2 stolen bases.