4/6/73: Blyeven K's 15, Twins outlast A's in 14. 9-3

The A's faithful would've made home by eleven except for one thing: Bert Blyeven. The Twins RHP struck out 15 A's batters in 12+ IP, then his teammates batted around in the top of the 14th, scoring 6 times in a 9-3 Twins killing of the defending World Champs at the Coliseum.

It started out as a duel between Blyeven and Catfish Hunter and pitched that way for the most part with the ice broken in the bottom of the 2nd by World Series MVP Gene Tenace, who picked up where he left off with a solo homer giving the A's a 1-0 lead after 2. That's the way it stood until the top of the 5th when Jim Holt slugged a leadoff homer tying the score at 1. Larry Hisle and Rod Carew slugged back-to-back singles putting Twins at the corners when Bobby Darwin lined to SS Dal Maxvill for a 6-3 DP. Tony Oliva singled Carew to 3rd, but Steve Braun popped to 3rd ending the inning.

The A's struck for 2 in their half of the 5th on s leadoff single by Dick Green, Green advancing to 3rd on a 1-out single by Maxvill. Joe Rudi's sacrifice fly to center scored Green, then after a walk to Reggie Jackson, who had struck out 2 previous times, Sal Bando singled in Maxvill, padding Oakland's lead to 3-1 after 5. 

After Bobby Darwin struck out to open the top of the 8th, Tony Oliva* became the first DH to homer in a game, cutting the Oakland margin to 3-2. But the Twins weren't done as Steve Braun doubled, then after Joe Lis struck out, Danny Thompson clutched in the tying run with a single, making the score 3-3. Catfish would then strike out George Mitterwald, thus striking out the side and giving Hunter 8 strikeouts in 8 IP. But the fun was just beginning.

Rollie Fingers took over for Catfish in the 9th, starting a string of 5 scoreless innings. Bert Blyeven was just getting better as the game went along, pitching well into the 13th, including a big threat in the 11th when Ray Fosse and Dick Green singled with 2 outs. Angel Mangual pinch-hit for Bill North, whose card was peppered with "anti-clutch." Mangual lined to Thompson at short, ending the threat.

Minny had runners at the corners with 2 out in the 13th when Holt flied to left, then the A's took charge when Sal Bando hit a botched grounder to Holt at 1st and Gene Tenace was hit by Blyeven. After 12+ IP, the call was out for Ken Sanders, replacing Blyeven, who struck out 15 in 12+. PH Mike Hegan then fouled to Steve Braun at 3rd, followed by Ray Fosse, who belted a single to Hisle in center. Bando came flying home from 2nd only to have Hisle and his +4 arm whip an adrenaline-fueled throw home to shoot down a stunned Bando at home. Dick Green struck out, ending the inning.

New A's pitcher Darold Knowles hit Larry Hisle to open the 14th. Rod Carew then flied to center, Bobby Darwin walked, Tony Oliva went down looking. Steve Braun then doubled home Hisle, Steve Brye singled home Darwin and Braun and after a 2-base error by Joe Rudi putting on Danny Thompson and a bases-loading walk by George Mitterwald, Jim Holt cleared the bases with a triple, making it a 6-run 14th. After a 2-out single by Joe Rudi and a E-6 putting Reggie Jackson on after a 5-srikeout night, Sal Bando bounced to Braun at 3rd, ending the 14-inning marathon. 

MIN 9-15-2 OAK 3-13-2 LOB: MIN 13 OAK 14 WP-Sanders LP-Knowles HR- Tenace (1) Holt (1) Oliva (1) MIN 1-0 OAK 0-1 

*Oliva also homered in the actual game.

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