Oakland – The Oakland A’s walked it off in the final game of the last series played at the Coliseum, with Jacob Wilson recording his first career walk-off in true A’s fashion. In the opening game of the series against the Texas Rangers, Oakland secured a 5-4 victory in what would become a memorable night.
“You look in the stands and see all the fans on their feet pumped up,” Wilson said. “Obviously, it’s a pretty emotional week. We’re going to try and make it as special as we can for the fans and the city. Tonight was pretty special.”
Wilson, who was called up from Triple-A in July but quickly placed on the injured list with a strained left hamstring, was reinstated on August 27th. Tonight, he etched his name into A’s history by dramatically winning the game. With the score tied 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth, Zack Gelof singled on a line drive and stole second base. Wilson followed with a single, driving in Gelof to win the game. It was an incredible victory and a fitting end to an era for A’s fans, who savored the magic of this resilient team.
“For those that are here, and I think they’re still out there, that aren’t coming on Thursday, I think that’s a great way to have a memory of a walk-off win for their last home game,” said A’s manager Mark Kotsay. “You can feel the sadness as opposed to anger. I just hope that the next two days are equally as enjoyable.”
The game started strong for Oakland. Lawrence Butler led off the first inning with a walk, followed by Shea Langelier’s double that scored Butler to tie the game at 1-1. Tyler Soderstrom then doubled on a sharp line drive to center, bringing in Langeliers to give the A’s a 2-1 lead. Butler continued his strong performance with a leadoff double in the third inning, advancing to third and scoring on JJ Bleday’s groundout to extend the lead to 3-1.
Despite Adolis García’s double to score Josh Smith in the first and Nathaniel Lowe’s homer, the Rangers fought back to tie the game 3-3 by the fifth inning. Marcus Semien singled and stole second, Wyatt Langford reached on a fielder’s choice, and after Garcia singled and Lowe walked to load the bases, Jonah Heim was hit by a pitch, forcing in a run.
Oakland brought in Mitch Spence to relieve TJ McFarland. Spence pitched 4.2 innings, allowing seven hits, three runs, two walks, and striking out two while surrendering a home run. The bullpen held the Rangers in check after that. In the sixth inning, Soderstrom’s ground-rule double scored Gelof to give the A’s a 4-3 lead, but Heim’s solo home run tied it again at 4-4.
In the end, Wilson’s clutch hit sealed the A’s walk-off win, bringing joy to a bittersweet ending at the Coliseum.
“There’s been a lot of talk about Zack this year and why we kept him up here,” said Kotsay. “You saw tonight, really, why we kept him here. This kid has not changed his attitude. He’s not been impacted by the lack of performance. He’s continued to stay with the process. He continues to work, and he brings the intangibles. We won a game tonight because he stole a base on a 2-2 count.”
Farewell to the Coliseum: A Final Look at Oakland’s Storied Home
As the Oakland A’s prepare for their temporary relocation to Sacramento, the final three games of the season are upon us. The team will play at Sutter Health Park for an estimated three years until their new ballpark in Las Vegas is completed, with a planned debut in 2028.
The A’s have a rich history, starting with their early success as the Philadelphia Athletics, where they won three World Series titles in 1910, 1911, and 1913. They added back-to-back championships in 1929 and 1930 before moving to Kansas City in 1955, becoming the Kansas City Athletics.
In 1968, the Athletics relocated to Oakland, where they claimed World Series victories in 1972, 1973, and 1974, led by stars such as Vida Blue, Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, and Rollie Fingers. The 1989 World Series, famously dubbed the “89 Quake” due to the catastrophic earthquake that struck the Bay Area, featured Hall of Famers Dennis Eckersley, Rickey Henderson, and manager Tony LaRussa, alongside Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire.
The A’s continued to leave their mark on history, setting the record for the most consecutive wins in a single season with 20 victories in 2002. As the team faces the Texas Rangers in their final series, it will be a moment to reflect on the memories this ballpark has created for staff, players, and fans alike.
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