A's Insider notes: History vs. the Angels

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May 17, 2011GUTIERREZ ARCHIVEA'S PAGEA'S VIDEORECAPBOX SCORE
Paul Gutierrez
CSNCalifornia.com
Our A's Insider takes a look at the A's 14-0 domination of the visiting Angels in the second and final game of the short series Tuesday night.Gio and the Bats: While it may sound like a boy band, it simply describes the A's attack of the Los Angeles Angels on this rain-soaked evening. Sure, the game was delayed 42 minutes, but the end was inevitable. On the evening his mentor, Dallas Braden, underwent surgery in New York to repair a torn capsule in his pitching shoulder, Gio Gonzalez simply dominated the Angels, allowing one hit in seven shutout innings while striking out seven and walking one. The left-hander threw 93 pitches - his final pitch was a 93-mph heater - and he was backed up by an offensive explosion not seen this season. The A's had season highs in runs (14) and hits (15), with Mark Ellis and Coco Crisp contributing three hits apiece. Ellis also had four RBI. According to A's historian David Feldman, the 14 runs scored tied the Oakland record for most runs without a home run.
RECAP: Rain shrouds A's 14-0 beating of Angels

More history made: Per Feldman, the 14-0 shutout of the Angels is the A's largest-ever margin of victory over their SoCal rivals. It is also the third largest such victory in Oakland history, behind a 16-0 defeat of the Giants on June 26, 2005 and a 15-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 30, 2001.
Back in first place: For the first time since June 3, 2010, the A's have a share of first place in the American League West. Granted, they are in a tie with Texas, and the Angels are only 12 of one game behind. Still, it's an achievement for an up-and-coming club looking to latch on to any positive momentum. At 22-20, the A's are two games over .500 for only the second time this season. Oh yeah, the team the A's were tied for first with last June? The eventual American League champion Rangers.A big-league debut: Right-hander Trystan Magnuson, called up from triple-A Sacramento last Wednesday, made his major league debut in the ninth inning, and the big right-hander threw a scoreless inning. He gave up a lead-off single to Jeff Mathis on his first pitch but after a couple of fielder's choice outs, he struck out Hank Conger to end the game.Bailey update: Closer Andrew Bailey, on the disabled list since sprint training with a strained right (pitching) forearm, completed his second extended spring training minor league stint in Phoenix Tuesday morning. The right-hander threw 19 pitches in one inning and did not allow a hit. He walked two and struck out one. Manager Bob Geren said Bailey's fastball registered between 92 and 94 mph and that he used all of his pitches. Bailey said he felt good and hoped to start a full-fledged minor league rehab assignment soon.

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