*Photo from Tribune Content Agency*
Series tied 1-1
The Oakland Athletics finally ended their winless streak in elimination games. Chris Bassitt pitched lights out, Marcus Semien homered, and the Athletics topped the Chicago White Sox by a 5-3 score to tie the best of 3 wild card series at a game apiece. The A's have lost in the wild card round each of the last two series, so the motivation is there to keep going.
The A's started the scoring in the first inning, when Ramon Laureano and Tommy La Stella both scored on a fielding error by Nick Madrigal, making it 2-0 Oakland early. In the second inning, Semien cranked a two run homer to center field, doubling the lead to 4-0. In the 4th inning, Khris Davis hit a solo homer to left field to make it 5-0 Oakland. It stayed that way until the 8th, when Yasmani Grandal got the White Sox on the board with a two run homer. In the 9th, Madrigal scored on a bases loaded walk to make it 5-3 Oakland, and the A's were able to lock it down from there.
Game 3 is the do or die game of the wild card round, even though it isn't a game 7. Despite that, the teams are treating the game as it is a game 7, with the win or go home mentality flying around the park. Semien said after the game that "It feels good. We're hungry for more wins. Tomorrow, anything can happen. It's just like Game 7."
Bassitt got the win for Oakland, throwing 7 dominant innings in a must win for the A's. Bassitt allowed one run on 6 hits and one walk, striking out 5 hitters. Bassitt was taken out in the 8th with one runner on, being responsible for one run in the Grandal two run homer. Bassitt said after the game that "I'm pretty sure we're pretty dang confident in anyone we throw against the White Sox, the numbers don't mean anything. It's the postseason. I thought they put absurd at-bats against me, and I'm a righty."
Dallas Keuchel got the loss for the White Sox, lasting just 3 1/3 innings. Keuchel allowed 5 runs on 6 hits, walking no one and striking out 4 hitters. Jimmy Cordero came in to follow Keuchel, and pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless work in relief, allowing just one hit and one walk. Dylan Cease and Codi Heuer also pitched for the White Sox.
The White Sox gained some late momentum, which Madrigal believes will carry over to game 3. Madrigal said that "The biggest thing is carry that momentum from the last inning into tomorrow's game, even going into today's game everyone felt good. We had some good innings just didn't cash in. No one's really worried, we know what we can do. We don't have to overthink it, just go out there and play our game."
Dane Dunning will start for the White Sox in the win or go home game 3, while Mike Fiers starts for Oakland.
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