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news228/ Ho-Rod Ho-mer - Next stop ; Turnpike Stadium [10.17.04]sun.[08:49 PM]

  • Jeremy Slifka of the Oakland A's took the hill (12-3 4.19) against Brian Bishoff and the Boston Red Sox who has been battling shoulder problems throughout this season. The Red Sox came out strong behind second year player and superstar Abdulkareem the second basebmen for the club with a first inning homerun to put the Sox out front 1-0 through one. The photographer in attendance definitly got her moneys worth during the ALDS Winner Take All game between these two team that had an over .700 winning percentage in 2004. Oakland (15-5 .750), Boston (17-6 .739). She captured over 200 pictures throughout the night and none better than the one that saw Abdulkareem hit a 3-run homerun in the top second to make it 4-0 Red Sox. The A's were desprite for some runs as they were 9 outs away from being knocked out and missing that trip to the ALCS. Tom Bautisa led off the bottom second by getting hit by the fourth pitch of the at bat and theres where the rally started. Mitch Ballard then comes up and walks, leadoff hitter Chris Pike strikes out to make it one out. Pitcher Jeremy Slifka walks on five pitches and then Jose Rodriguez walks in a run on four straigh out of the zone to make it 4-1. With Bishoff striking out the next two (Roche swinging, Ianez looking) he brings the Sox to the top of the third leading 4-1. They manage to get two base hits in the third but at the wrong time, going scoreless in the top third that brings the A's up in the bottom of the inning with Bautisa leading off with a groundout to the pitcher diving to his left. The A's are now down to four outs to score three runs. Ballard then walks and steals second base to put himself in scoring position with one out. Then Pike walks on six pitches and then Slifka strikes out on four pitches and up comes Jose Rodriguez and they were attempting a double steal and Ballard took off at second before Bishoff throws to home and get picked off whiling trying to steal third and that ends the inning and eliminates a possible 3-run tieing homerun by Rodriguez. J.P. Davis then comes on the hill in the top 4th and throws seven pitches all for strikes with two strike outs and forcing the Sox to go 1-2-3. A's come in the bottom of the 4th inning needing 3 runs or it's elimination. The Red Sox then decide to bring in their closer for the save. One of the best closers in the game, Hoolio Beniez, had to have his best stuff or they may not make it past the ALDS, as Jose Rodriguez led off the inning getting hit by the first pitch then stealing second base. Dan Roche the potential A.L. Rookie of the Year comes up and walks on five pitches. The Coral Ianez strikes out looking on a border line call at the knees to make it one down, first and second, trailing 4-1. Tom Bautisa then walks and then Ballard comes up and walks in a run to make it 4-2. Chris Pike then up walks and makes it 4-3. Then Jeremy Slifka comes up and gets hit by the first pitch he saw from Beniez to tie it up! The Ho-Rod and Roche strike out to end the inning. The game was suspended due to the loss of light. The game was resumed the next day going into the fifth inning 4-4. So at 11:45 AM the Red Sox go 1-2-3 against J.P. Davis as he threw another seven pitch inning with them all being strikes while striking out one. Bottom of the 5th A's cannot score with a one out walk to Bautisa. Top 6th the A's bring in their closer, Freddrick Crevan and gives up a lead off single to Scott Jacks on the first pitch he saw. The Nathan Neuman pops out to Crevan and Greg Mouton grounds into an inning ending double play. Then the Red Sox brings in their ace Germane Cruz in the Bottom of the 6th Slifka gets hit by the fourth pitch of the at bat and then Jose "Ho-Rod" Rodriguez comes up and drills a 1-0 count 212' in deep RF for a game ending walk-off homerun! Jose comes through! The Oakland Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox 6-4 in 6 innings. Here is what the Owner of the A's had to say about Ho-Rod's walkoff shot. "I figured he'd come through, I just didn't know when"

  • W - Freddrick Crevan
  • L - Germane Cruz