Walk-off HR by Olson was enough for happy A’s to break protocol
OA LANB >> For their own health and safety, major league players are supposed to keep a 6-foot distance from each other whenever possible. They have been told to refrain from highfives, hugs, chest-bumps and other such forms of celebration.
The A’s know this. But they couldn’t help themselves Friday night after Matt Olson’s walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning gave them an Opening Night 7-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. It was the first time in 34 years — and only the third time in MLB history — that a season-opener ended in a walkoff grand slam.
“You can quickly forget in a situation like that when you’re excited,” A’s reliever T.J. Mcfarland said. “Everyone’s just happy we won. But you’re reminded quickly, ‘Hey, we are in the middle of a pandemic here. Let’s be safe with all the protocols.’ Throughout this year, we’re going to have to be cognizant an follow the rules.”
As soon as Olson’s blast landed in the right-field seats, possibly even before, the A’s rushed out of the dugout with buckets of water, prepared to douse Olson at home plate.
There are no provisions for fining players or coaches for breaking social-distancing rules. If there were, a lot of A’s would be facing a fine.
“There are so many things that are just natural in the game that we’re going to have to try to break,” manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s not going to be perfect. It’s something that’s emotional, your instincts just take over. So we’ll see what happens down the road.”
Without the buzz of a ballpark crowd, the most audible sounds from a game come from the dugouts. Those couple hundred in attendance can hear the cheers, jeers and claps. The A’s, for the most part, have stayed in line and celebrated by bashing forearms rather than exchanging high-fives and chest-bumps.
Some players have been caught on camera spitting, which is a no-no. If pitchers are licking their fingers, it hasn’t been obvious.
But, a walk-off celebration? After experiencing one — the first walk-off grand slam in an opener since 1986 (Jim Presley, Seattle Mariners) — players can’t just cheer individually, distanced safely from each other, it seems.
“In the moment, you’re just not going to think about that,” A’s pitcher Mike Fiers said. “It’s sports, man. If you love this game, it’s going to be really tough to stay away from each other, especially in moments like that.”
The A’s had the game in hand, leading 3-2 in the ninth, when closer Liam Hendricks gave up a home run to Jason Castro.
That led to the first extra-innings game of the season, and the first instance of the new rule that puts a runner at second base to start the 10th inning. Shohei Otani was the runner for the Angels, but he wasn’t quite ready for it. The broadcast showed the Japanese star in the dugout wearing a pullover when the ninth inning ended. Caught offguard, someone reminded him he needed to go to second and he quickly got organized.
Ohtani tried to advance on Jared Walsh’s grounder to first, but Olson made an excellent throw across the diamond that led to Ohtani being tagged out in a rundown.
In the A’s half of the 10th, Marcus Semien was granted second base and the A’s loaded the bases against Hansel Robles (01) on a hit by pitch, wild pitch and a walk.
New Angels manager Joe Maddon brought in reliever Hoby Milner and, with a five-man infield in place, Olson hit the first pitch far over the rightfield wall.
According to STATS, the only player other than Presley to hit a walk-off grand slam on opening day was Sixto Lezcano of the Milwaukee Brewers in 1980.