Fassero ran into trouble in the beginning of the game. Ryan Christenson singled to lead off the bottom of the first and Miguel Tejada followed with another single. Olmedo Saenz singled and Christenson broke for home but was thrown out at the plate by Darren Lewis. Tejada swiped third but John Jaha walked to load the bases. Jeremy Giambi banged into a double play to end the inning. Fassero escaped but tossed too many pitches. Gil Heredia began his great outing by walking Lewis to open the bottom of the first. Trot Nixon grounded out to advance Lewis to second, but Darren was doubled off at second after Brian Daubach hit a rocket line drive to short.
Fassero settled down in the top of the second. Ramon Hernandez lined out, Ben Grieve grounded out and Jorge Velandia grounded out to end the inning. The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the second. Nomar Garciaparra grounded out, Carl Everett popped up and Mike Stanley grounded out to end the inning.
The A's threatened in the top of the third as well. Eric Chavez struck out but Christenson and Tejeda hit back to back singles. Christenson was foolishly thrown out trying to steal, which loomed large when Saenz singled Tejeda to third base. Jaha walked to load the bases but Giambi struck out to end the inning. Jeff Frye struck out to begin the bottom of the third. Jason Varitek got the Sox first hit of the game but Wilton Veras flied out. Lewis flied out to end the inning.
Hernandez grounded out to begin the top of the fourth inning. Grieve struck out and Vealandia grounded out to end the inning. The Sox attempted to rally in the bottom of the fourth. Nixon struck out but Daubach singled. Nomar doubled into the gap but the slow footed Daubach had to be held at third. Everett was intentionally walked and all Stanley needed to do was hit a fly ball and the Sox would have had the lead. Unfortunately with the lead foot Daubach, his fly ball he hit wasn't deep enough and everyone stayed put. Frye lined out to end virtually the only threat of the day.
Fassero took full advantage of his defense in the top of the fifth. Chavez, Christenson and Tejeda all grounded out in short order. Heredia settled down himself by striking out Varitek to open the bottom of the fifth. Veras flied out and Lewis grounded out to end the inning.
The A's finally broke through in the top of the 6th. Saenz doubled and Jaha singled him home, taking second on the throw home. Giambi struck out and trigger happy Sox manager Jimy Williams pulled Fassero for Rich Garces. Fassero did well, just didn't get any run support. Hernandez erased Jaha at third on a force and Grieve struck out to end the inning. The Sox got the tying run on in the bottom of the sixth when Nixon walk. Daubach flied out and Nixon was erased at second on the force by Nomar. Everett grounded out to end the inning.
Garces returned for the top of the 7th. Velandia flied out, Chavez flied out and Christenson did as well to end the inning. The Sox went quietly in the bottom of the 7th. Stanley grounded out, Frye struck out, Varitek flied out to end the inning.
Garces returned for the top of the 8th. Tejeda struck out, Saenz walked and Jaha struck out. Tim Wakefield replaced Garces popped up to end the inning. Doug Jones replaced Heredia in the bottom of the eighth and the Sox tried to rally one last time. Jose Offerman pinch hit for Veras and struck out. Lewis struck out and Nixon singled. Daubach struck out to end the inning.
Offerman stayed in the game at second and Frye moved to third, Wakefield returned for the top of the ninth. Hernandez grounded out but Grieve doubled. Jason Giambi pinch hit for Valendia and was intentionally walked. Frank Menechino pinch ran for Giambi as Chavez flied out. Christenson singled but Grive was thrown out at home by Lewis to end the inning. Menechino stayed in the game at second base as Jason Isringhausen came in to close out the game. Nomar struck out and Everett grounded out. Scott Hatteberg pinch hit for Stanley and grounded out to end the game. The A's had won 1-0.
Jackass of the Night is a tough one because it was a beautiful game with not much offense on either side. I'll have to go with Mike Stanley. He was 0 for 3 and failed to drive in a run with the bases loaded, that changed the complexion of the game.
The Good:
Trot Nixon was 1 for 3 with a walk. Jason Varitek was 1 for 3. Rich Garces pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Tim Wakefield pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
The Bad:
Scott Hatteberg was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter. Jeff Frye was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts. Wilton Veras was 0 for 2. Jose Offerman pinch hit for Veras and struck out.
The Ugly:
Darren Lewis was 0 for 3 with a walk and gunned down 2 runners at the plate on defense. Brian Daubach was just 1 for 4. Nomar Garciaparra was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout. Carl Everett was 0 for 3 with a walk. Jeff Fassero was game but lasted only 5 1/3 innings giving up 8 hits and 2 walks, escaping trouble throughout the game.
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