Nationals disaster

A's put all phases of game together to advance to championship - end Nats year

The A's had been struggling of late, leaving runners on base, making untimely errors and just plain lackluster play. But competition and a chance at another championship brought out the best the A's had to offer in a 7-2, 9-5 sweep over the Nationals in the AL semifinals.

"I always felt like the guys had it in them, but I wondered where it went and if I could find it again," A's manager Ryan Metcalfe said. "Neither game was easy, but we just kept making good plays to keep the pressure on them and eventually we took advantage of their mistakes. If we can play a couple more game like we did, I like our chances against the Titans."

The A's (15-5) lost both games against the Titans (18-2) this season and last were swept out of the championship series against the Titans, who reached the championship series by sweeping the Astros. But the A's have shown an ability to beat and compete with the Titans, splitting the 2006 season series in a pair of 1-run games and losing 2 more by 2.

The No. 3 A's demonstrated the type of play it will take to beat the Titans, hitting and scoring off good pitching and playing stingy defense against the No. 2 seed Nationals (14-6).

The A's had to sweat out the final 9 outs n Game 2, after Steve Nojima entered in relief of Shane Francisco, who limited the Nationals to one run over 6 innings 1 hit through five before a three-hit sixth produced the Nationals first run and introduced a pitching change. The Nationals continued to swing hot bats, opening the seventh with four straight soft singles. Nojima battled back with a strikeout, but then a bases loaded walk sent home a second run to cut the A's lead to 6-2 with the tying run at the plate. Mike Ebersole hit a blooper in front of Matt Wolfe in left. Wolfe took the ball on a bounce and fired a strike home to nail Steve Andrews at the plate and limit the damage to 4 runs and a 6-4 lead with 2 outs. Billy Dodson ranged well up the middle from second to cut off the Nationals rally.

The Nationals returned the favor by turning a 6-4-3 double play on Dodson in the bottom of the seventh, but the A's responded with a two-out rally. Walks for Clint Yeager and Wolfe along with a single by Francisco loaded the bases for a 2-run single by Roland Belcher. Wolfe tried to take third on the single and the throw bounced off his back, allowing Wolfe to score.

"That was a huge hit by Roland. It really took the pressure off us," A's shortstop Mike Mastro' said.

Mastro helped the A's take a 2-0 lead with the first of 2 sac flies in the first, the second by Dodson after Brodie Nissen and Steve Nojima walked. Wolfe had the big hit in the fourth, a two-run single with the bases loaded -- after Dodson and Francisco walked and Yeager singled. Keith Lederer followed with a bases loaded walk to make the lead 5-0. Francisco hit an RBI single to single home Dodson in the fifth, after Dodson hustled to avoid a double play then stole second.

Francisco had his best -- and longest -- pitching performance after getting out of jam in the first.

"We've got to credit quite a few outs to our scouting report," Nissen said, noting a strong play by Dodson to get out of jam in the first. "I think we turned a couple of hits into outs by having our guys in the right place.

Francisco didn't need much help, pitching three 1-2-3 innings over the next four with only an error keeping him from four. Nojima also cruised after his first-inning struggles. Wolfe mad a diving catch in left to finish a 1-2-3 eighth and only a walk spoiled a 1-2-3 ninth to complete the save.

The opening game was just as close with the A's taking a 4-0 lead in the fourth after a leadoff single by Shawn Purcell and an RBI double by Francisco got the offense started. The next two A's made outs, but Keith Lederer responded with an RBI single to left and then the A's worked for three straight walks off John Deltorre, one of the top control pitchers in the AL, to take a 4-0 lead.

The Nationals got back in the game on a two-run double by Roy Sisk the Purcell settled down recording 9 straight outs before an error stopped the string and gave the Nationals one last chance. A two-out single in the seventh followed, but Purcell reached back for one last strikeout, his 10th, to close out his victory and make pitching the final two innings easy for Dodson.

Francisco added 3 more RBI in game 1, making the lead 5-2 n the fifth after Clinton Yeager led off the inning with a walk and stole second, he score on a Francisco ground out. A Yeager walk along with a single by Dodson set the table for a two-run single by Francisco n the 7th that made the lead 7-2. Nissen walked and scored his second run of the game on an RBI double by Mastro'. Mastro had 4 RBI in the doubleheader and Francisco had 5.

Shane Francisco makes solid contact. He has continued with a hot bat in the playoffs, going 2-for-5 with 4 RBIs in the opener. He went 2-for-3 in the nightcap and pitched 5 shutout innings to give the A's a 6-0 lead.

Clinton Yeager swipes a bag against the Mets. Even against the strong-armed catchers of the AL, Yeager is a threat to go. He scored 4 runs, stole 3 bases & scored 2 more times as a courtesy runner vs. the Nats.

Mike Mastro' continues to flash his quick hands for the A's at shortstop and at the plate. He 2-for-3 with 3 RBI in the opener and followed with a sac fly in game 2 that put the A's ahead 2-0.

Roland Belcher continues his gritty play, making contact at the plate and big scoops at first base. His 2-run single in the 7th gave the A's the breathing room they needed to close out the series.

Francisco- Playoff MVP