Great catch: Mark Canha brings back memories of Joe Rudi with catch.

mildly.

Let’s break it down, starting with the heart-pounding moment when visions of the A’s meltdown against the Kansas City Royals in the 2014 AL wild-card game came flashing back.

Liam Hendriks, who had allowed all of one home run and five earned runs this season, had a little trouble. Melvin said before the game the closer would pitch Wednesday “no matter what.” Apparently, that meant Hendriks would be asked to pitch the final two innings of the elimination game.

Hendriks took over for Bassitt after Tim Anderson’s leadoff single in the eighth and surrendered a two-run home run to Yasmani Grandal, slicing the A’s advantage to 5-2. Hendriks escaped further damage with two strikeouts. Sean Murphy framed a strike three call perfectly to get Nomar Mazara. Rookie later, A’s manager Bob Meltor into his decision. “Based Luis Robert struck out vin said. “But I wasn’t standon what happened (in Game swinging at a fastball to end ing out there in the outfield 1) and who’s available and the threat. with him. If anybody’s able how we look at our bullpen, More trouble loomed for Mark Canha may have to do something like that, all of those things will facHendriks in the ninth as saved the Oakland A’s seait’s probably Mark. So, yeah. tor in. So, this will be a disNick Madrigal, the ninth hitson Wednesday, making a Fan experience nowadays.” cussion in a little bit.” ter in the Chicago order, sinleaping catch against the “Mark loves that stuff. I Chicago manager Rick gled to center to ignite a twoleft field wall in the third indon’t,” A’s shortstop Marcus Renteria also said his Game out rally attempt. Anderson ning of what became a 5-3 Semien said when asked if 3 starter is to be deterfollowed with his third hit of win over the Chicago White he would ever do something mined, telling reporters afthe day and Yoán Moncada Sox, squaring their Amerilike that. “I just want to foter Wednesday’s game that walked to load the bases, can League first-round cus on the game. It’s hard “all hands are on deck.” prompting Melvin to get his playoff series at a one game enough for me to focus Melvin definitely has closer out of the game. Chiapiece. out there, let alone answer some options. cago’s entire dugout was on

With runners on first and questions. Kudos to Mark Right-hander Mike Fiers the front step and an Oaksecond and no outs, Yoan for wanting to do that.” was 5-2 with a 3.43 ERA land meltdown seemed posMoncada sent a Chris BasNo balls were hit to and three home runs alsible. sitt changeup deep to left Canha while the interview lowed in 39.1 innings over Jake Diekman came in field. But Canha’s catch, as was taking place. An A’s his final seven starts this and walked in the White he looked into the sun, prespokesperson said the reyear. Fiers had two wins in Sox’s third run. Cheers from vented at least one run from quest for the interview was starts against the White Sox the opposing dugout got scoring, probably two. made by MLB and was arlast year and did not allow louder and 2014 visions more

The A’s were up 4-0 at the ranged before the series a run in 14 2/3 innings. He vivid with José Abreu’s bat time. Bassitt then worked started. is 4-0 with a 1.58 ERA (nine looming. One swing could his way out of the jam in Canha told Flemming earned runs allowed in 51.1 put the White Sox ahead. the do-or-die playoff game, and Mendoza the catch, innings pitched) in eight caThen Abreu swung. The getting Yasmani Grandal to “was executed to perfecreer starts against Chicago. AL MVP candidate hit into pop out and José Abreu to tion on my part.” Sean Manaea, a lefty, was a soft groundout. fly out to center. For longtime A’s fans, the arguably a better pitcher toGame over.

Game 3 of the best- ofplay evoked memories of ward the end of this season Hendr ik s threw 49 three series is today at Joe Rudi’s catch in Game for the A’s, going 4-1 with pitches, which doesn’t sound noon. 2 of the 1972 World Sea 2.65 ERA and held opideal for a closer heading into

“Game- changer, gameries between Oakland and ponents to a .234 batting another elimination game. saver,” Bassitt said. “It’s an the Cincinnati Reds. With average over his final six But he had only thrown 55 automatic two runs if we Tony Perez on first base, starts dating back to Aug. pitches in three appearances don’t catch it.” Rudi leapt against the left20. The four wins tied for over the last week and likes

“I felt like I had a bead center field wall to rob Defourth most in the majors to pitch back-to-back days. on it,” Canha said. “I was nis Menke of extra bases. over that span. Melvin did not rule him out kind of measuring it up The A’s won that game 2-1 But the White Sox are for Game 3. as I was running to it and and went on to capture the 15- 0 against left-handed “I guarantee you he’s availabout three-quarters of the franchise’s first world title starters this season, inable tomorrow for at least an way there, I decided to go in Oakland in seven games. cluding a 4-1 win the over inning,” Melvin said. for it and decided I had a Canha was playing left Jesús Luzardo and the A’s Bassitt doesn’t hide his chance. It’s just kind of infield Wednesday after he on Tuesday. feelings. After a win in Chistinctual and timed it well. played right field in Game Right-hander Frankie cago against the team that Tough play, but thank god 1, a 4-1 White Sox win. SteMontas, on a postseason traded him in 2014, he wasn’t we got it done.” phen Piscotty was back in roster for the first time in afraid to tell reporters what

Maybe the most unusual right Wednesday. his career, is another opthat all meant to him. part? Canha had time to PITCHING PLANS KEPT UNtion, although he would be “Every time I pitch against talk about it with ESPN’s DERWRAPS >> Who will start only on three days’ rest. these guys for my career I’m Dave Flemming and Jestoday’s winner- take- all Two options for Renteria going to try to prove to them sica Mendoza, too, as he playoff game between the include Dylan Cease (5- 4, that they made a mistake,” played left field the followA’s and the Chicago White 4.01) and Dane Dunning (2Bassitt said that August 2019 day.inginning.Sox?BobMelvinwasn’tsay-0,3.97).Neitherhaspitched

That was news at the ing. a regular- season game assitt stated his case time to his manager. “We have a lot of analytagainst the A’s, with Cease again Wednesday, toss

“I didn’t know that hapics we look at,” Melvin said in his second big league seaing seven scoreless innings pened. I heard about it,” when asked what would fac- son and Dunning a rookie. with enough fuel to take the

THEARON W. HENDERSON — GETTY IMAGES The Athletics’ Mark Canha makes a leaping catch at the wall taking a hit away from Yoan Moncada of the White Sox during the third inning of Game 2.