by Clive Dahlton
Phoenix, AZ -- Tim Hudson got the nod for the Athletic's first spring training game, he lasted a 1/3 of an inning giving up 4 runs, 5 hits and walking 2. The blow that ousted Hudson from the game was a 2-0 pitch to Richie Sexson that was driven on a line into left center field, left fielder John Mabry gave chase and jumped at the warning track but it was just out of reach. "I'm not worried about it, it's spring training," Hudson emphatically explained. "I was working on a few new pitches over the offseason and want to try to establish a better repertoire, and I got just burned. Any time you throw a 75 mph hour curve ball that doesnt curve, major league hitters will mash it, I saw his eye's light up." Graham replaced Hudson early in the game with Jeff Tam for damage control, and seemed completely fine with Hudsons outing, "I'm not worried at all, I would much rather have him work on his pitches and get burned rather than just throw fastballs, this is what spring training is for, absolutely fine with it."
Tam pitched well in relief, pitching 2 innings giving up a walk and a hit, allowing zero earned. "I'm just trying to do my best to make the team, if its in a setup role, mop-up or otherwise, I just want to play ball," Tam said after the game. "We like his makeup, hes not a blow-it-by-you kind of pitcher but he pounds the strike zone and isn't afraid to challenge hitters. He'll get burned sometimes but he's never afraid, he trusts his stuff, and thats the kind of guys you want, he has great character," Graham told the media. Brewers ace Ben Sheets was absolutely dazzling striking out 7 in 3 2/3 innings of work, allowing zero earned and walking none.
Mark Ellis played the field for seven innings before being pulled for defensive replacement Randy Valerde, that was before notching two hits and driving home a run. The Athletic's were down 6-0 in the sixth inning, when Ellis drove home Scott Hatteberg lining a first pitch changeup down in the zone past Ray King into centerfield. Left handed catcher Cody McKay stepped up for Oakland, blasting a moon shot deep into right pulling the Athletic's within three going into the seventh. Milwaukee's Jose Cabrera pitched a 1-2-3 inning, striking out the side in order, pumping his fist powerfully walking off the mound. "That was the game," Graham said, "we just looked kind of dejected after that." Milwaukee closer Mike DeJean gave up a leadoff hit in the ninth to Miguel Tejada, and got third basemen Eric Chavez to swing on top of a sinking fastball for a 4-6-3 double play. Left fielder Adam Piatt was Oakland's last hope for a rally but struck out without even lifting the bat off his shoulders, ending the game. The final score: Athletics- 3 Brewers- 6
Graham waited for Piatt at the dugout with some words of encouragement, "Just keep your head up and put a good swing on it, I'd rather have you go down swinging, protect the plate and be agressive in those types of situations." Asked who would go for the next game at home versus Milwaukee, Graham didn't even hesitate a second, "Zito." Southpaw Barry Zito will take the mound for the Athletics in their spring training home opener at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The probable matchup will be Zito (17-8, 3.49 era) last season vs. Glendon Rusch (8-12, 4.63), last season with the New York Mets.
First pitch at 1:00 PT, hear it on XTRA 860 AM, your home for ATHLETICS BASEBALL!
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