ALDS - Halos come back from 0-2 deficit to knock off A's

KOD16 ALDS Preview

The Oakland A's came into the LDS riding the crest of a 4-game sweep of the Bronx Bombers to catapult into a tie for 1^st place atop the AL Original Franchise Division.  The Los Angeles came into the LDS still stinging from dropping 2 of 3 to Detroit, including an agonizing 25-inning loss on the last day of the season, but still managing to win the AL Expansion Franchise Division by 1 game.  Earlier in the season, Oakland swept the 3-game series when these two teams last met.

October 03, Angel Stadium, Anaheim

Oakland broke this one open early, scoring 4 runs in the 2^nd inning, and adding runs in 3 of the next 4 frames to build a 8-0 lead after 6 innings.  Reggie Jackson homered twice off Los Angeles starter Dean Chance, who was pounded for 14 hits in 6.1 innings of work, 4 of those hits belonging to Mitchell Page.  Meanwhile, A's starter Barry Zito exhibited complete control, yielding only 4 hits and no runs in 6 innings.  The Angels managed to score a couple runs late.  But the ending was never in doubt.

Oakland 8, Los Angeles 2  

Oakland leads the Series 1-0.

October 04, Angel Stadium, Anaheim

Game 2 featured a repeat performance by the Athletics, who scored 6 times off beleaguered Angles starter Marcelino Lopez.  Dick Green had 3 hits including a triple and 4RBIs to lead the Oakland attack. Mark McGwire capped off the scoring with a solo HR, plating the A's 13^th run. The Angels managed a few runs off Jim Archer, including a HR by Devon White.  But like Game 1, this one was practically over before it began.

Oakland 13, Loa Angeles 3 

Oakland leads the Series 2-0.

October 06, Oakland Coliseum, Oakland

As the series moved up the road to Oakland with the Athletics needing only one more win, LAA succeeded in finding a starting pitcher who could keep his team in the game. Rickey Clark pitched into the 9^th inning, surrendering only 6 hits and 2 earned runs.  Carney Lansford started the scoring with a home run to lead off the 2^nd.  The Angels clung to a 2-0 lead until breaking through in the 7^th innings with 4 runs off Oakland starter Dave Hamilton. The Athletics made it interesting in the 9^th and managed to bring the tying run to the plate.  By Halos closer Bob Lee induced a routine ground ball to shortstop to end the threat and preserve the win for Clark.         

Los Angeles 6, Oakland 3.

Oakland leads the Series 2-1.

October 07, Oakland Coliseum, Oakland

Both teams reached deep into their rotations for Game 4.  Oakland handed to ball to Tony Pierce, while LAA went with Paul Hartzell.  Both responded well, as the game remained scoreless through 4 innings. In the 5^th, Pierce temporarily lost his concentration, as both Carney Lansford and Devon White homered to give the Halos a 4-0 lead.  Meanwhile, Oakland could not figure out how to get to Hartzell, who allowed only 5 hits and 1 walk through 7 scoreless innings.  Dave LaRoche and Bob Lee kept the A's off the board for the last 2 innings to give the Angels the win.

Los Angeles 4, Oakland 0       

Series tied 2-2.         

October 08, Angel Stadium, Anaheim

Back in Anaheim, with the Series coming down to a 5^th and deciding game, both teams returned with their Game 1 starters. A Jim Edmonds RBI double gave LAA a 1-0 lead in the 3^rd inning, and Wally Joyner's RBI double an inning later, followed by a Reggie Willits single made it 3-0 after 4 innings. But that was all the Angels would get off of Zito.  Dick Green homered of Dean Chance to lead off the 5^th, and Yoenis Cespedes did the same off reliever Ken Tatum in the 7^th to bring the Athletics within 1 run.  But Los Angeles called on Troy Percival, who faced the minimum over the last 2 innings, and struck out Jose Canseco for the final out to give the Halos an improbable LDS come-from-behind win after being down 0-2

Los Angeles 3, Oakland 2  

Los Angeles wins the Series 3-2

MVP honors went to the Angels' Devon White, who went 7-15 (.467) with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs.

 --submitted by Douglas Zaner--