Oakland Athletics clinch playoff berth
By Hayden Kane
The Oakland Athletics entered their final game of the 2014 season with a one game lead over the Seattle Mariners for second Wild Card spot in the American League. They made their playoff scenario simple as they took the field against the Los Angeles Angels: win and they were in and a Mariners’ loss and they were in. If both teams won or both teams lost, there would be game 163.
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Sonny Gray took the mound for the Athletics in a game that they needed him to be an ace. He delivered, throwing a complete game shutout and leading Oakland to a victory and a playoff berth as they defeated the Texas Rangers 4-0.
Gray’s final line is as impressive as you would expect: 9 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, and it took him just 103 pitches to do it. Had it not been for a 9th inning single, Gray might have propelled his team into the playoffs with a “Maddux.”
On the offensive side of things, the A’s scored two runs in the second inning on a Josh Reddick triple and a Stephen Vogt single. They then tacked on two runs in the 9th inning with a rally that was capped off by a Jed Lowrie single.
Oakland had to avoid what would have been an epic meltdown by clinching on the final day of the season. They will now take on the Kansas City Royals in the one-game Wild Card round.
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