Oslund, A’s stymie Armena
Posted June 12, 2009
It wasn’t the Donny Oslund of old – mowing down guys with heaters – but it was still just as brilliant.
The veteran hurler used knuckles, curves and the occasional two-seamer to help Bardo end a three-game losing streak with a 6-1 win over Armena Thursday night.
It looked like Bardo was destined for another pitcher’s duel, and possibly a one-run finish after three innings. Armena’s Jason Buzzell fought his way through trouble to pitch the first three frames scoreless.
The Royals then put together back-to-back hits with two outs in the bottom half off of Oslund, but as Mark Walker was heading for third on an Adam Johnson single, he was gunned down by a perfect throw from centre fielder Rob Berrecloth.
“It was a great throw,” Buzzell said. “We need to be agressive on the bases, and nine times of ten he doesn’t make that throw. What can you do?”
It proved to be the turning point of the game.
Bardo finally got to Buzzell with a 4-run fourth inning. The back-breaker being a two-run double by none other than Berrecloth of course.
Armena tried to fight back. Their lone run of the game came off the bat of All-Star Joel Boettger in the bottom half of the fourth to cut the lead to 4-1, his and the team’s first home run of the season.
But they couldn’t muster anymore and Bardo chipped in a couple insurance runs for the crucial 6-1 victory, which also locked up the season series for the Athletics versus Armena.
“It was just one of those nights,” player-coach Clark Banack said. “They’re the kind of team that’s going to get to you and you need to score runs, and we didn’t.”
The Royals now are in a must-win game Tuesday in Ryley, the start of a two-game road swing to Ryley next week. Game time is 7 p.m.
Posted on June 12, 2009 by Jason Buzzell
