An Electrifying Start 
What a game for our beloved Oakland Athletics 
! After a rocky start in the top of the 1st inning, where Manny Machado slammed a homerun and the Padres took an early 3-0 lead 
, the bats for our A's really came alive in the bottom half of the inning. The momentum started with Lawrence Butler singling to center, followed by key performances from Tyler Soderstrom, who walked, and JJ Bleday, whose double brought both Butler and Soderstrom home
. The charge continued as Miguel Andujar and Jacob Wilson each contributed crucial singles, setting the table for Gio Urshela to drive in two runs with a double to left. By the end of the inning, a surprising 6-3 lead in favor of the Athletics had us all buzzing in the stands! 
Holding the Line 
In the following innings, our defense tightened up considerably, only allowing minimal opportunities for the Padres to close the gap. Significant strikes by Jake Cronenworth and Yuli Gurriel offered some resistance, yet our pitchers remained composed throughout, consistently shutting down any scoring attempts. Standout defensive plays and skilled pitch execution in the middle innings preserved our lead, with contributions from all over the roster keeping the Padres to just 4 runs
. Everyone in the stands could feel the palpable energy and camaraderie between the players. Let's not forget the steady work from our bullpen, with pitchers like Leclerc taking charge. 
A Grand Conclusion 
As if leading 9-4 wasn't enough, JJ Bleday once again came through in the clutch with a solo homer to right field in the bottom of the 7th, bringing the crowd back to its feet and cementing the Athletics' command with a 10-4 score. Hearing the crack of the bat and watching that ball soar...what a moment! 
In the final stretch, our pitchers dominated, with Ferguson closing the game strong, striking out Xander Bogaerts and Yuli Gurriel to end the Padres' final push. Victory was sweet as the Athletics took home a decisive 10-4 win.
Hats off to our entire lineup for showcasing heart, hustle, and talent under pressure. Let's carry this momentum as the season progresses, Oakland fans! Go Athletics!
Scoreboard for Padres @ Athletics (April 9th, 2025)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 1 |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 1 |