Yabba Dabba Don't

Mike Abbadassa baffles A's bats to lead Blue Jays to 7-2 upset

With the Blue Jays playing for their playoff lives and the A's seemingly assured of not defending their first place finish of 2006, it was little wonder the Jays came out inspired, took a 3-run lead in the first and never let the A's back in a 7-2 loss.

"The Jays didn't out hit us or out-pitch the out-executed us," A's manager Ryan Metcalfe said, feeling the frustration of a flat performance. "We made a lot of mistakes that cost us a run and a lot of mistakes that kept us from scoring runs -- myself included."

Only once did Jays starter Mike Abbadassa pitch a 1-2-3 inning, but he kept the A's
(11-5) off-balance enough to hold them to 2 runs on 9 hits. The Jays (8-8) also had 9 hits, but used the bunt and 4 A's errors to build a 5-0 lead.

The Jays got to A's starter Steve Nojima with 4 hits in the first inning and the one that hurt the most went the fewest feet from home plate. Unlike his namesake Jack Clark bunted to third with a man on second a a 1-0 lead. A strong play might have had Clark, but he hustled all the way to first and Shawn Purcell's throw got past Shane Francisco at first, allowing a run to score and Clark scored on a double to put the Jays ahead 3-0.

The Jay picked up a run in the second on an infield single and an error. Clark benefited from a bunt by Chris Hendry, who hit an RBI double in the first, to hit his own RBI single to make the lead 5-0 in the fifth.

The A's were never really out of the game, scoring a run in the bottom of the fifth on a bases loaded sacrifice fly by Brodie Nissen. The A's picked up another run in the ninth on a flare to right by Nissen. In both innings the A's made least of opportunities, scoring once after the first three hitters reached base.

"We need to learn from this loss," Metcalfe said hoping his A's would hear. "We made errors and we weren't there to back each other up. I hope more people noticed Brodie's hustle down the first base line to back up a throw from the outfield. He anticipated Clinton Yeager making the catch and throwing to first when many other players -- including the catchers on other teams -- would have been spectators. His hustle saved us a run. There were a couple other times we made the bad throw and a hustling teammate who anticipates rather than reacts to the mistake could have kept the Jays from taking the extra base.

"In the playoffs we will be in more close games and that kind of teamwork and hustle could be the difference between winning and losing."

Shane Francisco battled out of a two-error jam his teammates placed him in during the fourth before giving up a run in the fifth -- his first earned run in five appearances. Purcell struck out 8 in 4 innings of relief and allowed 2 runs. The first run scored on a double and a wild pitch and the Jays used a double steal to score a run in the ninth.

The A's played the entire game with 8 players. Yeager one of two outfielders in the game not only made a couple of long-running catches but also had 3 hits and scored in the fifth after a leadoff double. Mike Mastro' and Purcell both had 2 hits with Purcell scoring a run in the 9th after a leadoff double. Mastro' and Nissen followed with singles, but Abbadassa got the next 3 hitters out to close out the victory.

The A's close out the season against the Padres (at Santa Rosa High) and Mets (at a site TBA due to construction at Napa College).

Brodie Nissen makes solid contact like he has much of the season. He drove both A's runs in the loss.

Steve Nojima hurls the horsehide. He reached strange results against the Blue Jays with an impressive 6 strikeouts and 1 walk in 3 innings, but gave up 4 runs.

Shane Francisco stretched his arm to 2 innings and the catcher with the closer's poise continued to throw strikes with no walks in 2 innings overcoming 2 errors.

Nissen - G16 MVP