Infielder's slam caps big win
CHICAGO -- Mike Blowers' left leg could
be in a museum. It's abstract art, big
swatches of purple and yellow.
"I fouled a ball off it," the third baseman
said matter-of-factly. "Then I did it again."
Blowers wasn't trying to act macho. He
just takes it for granted that during a
baseball season there will be parts of his
body that are lavishly-hued and ache when
touched.
"I'll tell you, it (profanity) hurts," the
infielder said, laughing. "But one of the
things about the minor-league system is the
weeding-out that happens. That's where
you learn you play every day. And you've
got to go out there hurt sometimes. You
learn that at an early level in your career.
So by the time you get here . ... I don't
even think about it twice, to be honest."
Blowers has been prepared -- no, make
that eager -- to play with pain all season.
But until Dave Magadan injured his hand
in Detroit and subsequently had to go on
the disabled list, the veteran was forced to
bide his time. He became a role player
who started only against lefties and
otherwise pinch-hit or was a late-inning
defensive replacement. That left a lot of
time on the bench to nurse his wounds.
But after Magadan went on the DL on
Saturday, Blowers became a starter again.
He responded with three hits, a walk, a
stolen base and an outstanding play at third
in Oakland's victory over Chicago.
Then he outdid that performance Sunday
afternoon in the A's 9-7 victory over the
White Sox. When Oakland scored six
times in the eighth inning to rally from a
five-run deficit, the biggest hit in the
improbable rally was Blowers' grand slam
to right center.
And that wasn't his only contribution on
the day. Blowers also singled, walked and
drove in an insurance run in the ninth with
a sacrifice fly.
"How smart am I, huh?" manager Art
Howe said.
The home run really wasn't a surprise.
With the bases loaded, Blowers is death on
pitchers -- 28-for-63 (.444) lifetime with
seven slams.
"I know how to relax in those situations,"
Blowers said. "All the pressure is on the
guy out there with the ball to make
pitches."
Magadan was understandably bummed
when it was announced that he was going
on the DL, but he decided there was one
plus. His injury would give Blowers some
needed playing time. For Oakland to do
well this year it was essential his teammate
pitch in, too.
"And he's making the most of it,"
Magadan said, grinning. "I've seen Mike
play before. He's not going to hit .200, and
he's going to hit the ball out of the park."
Actually, Blowers did slightly better than
that in April, finishing the month with a
.205 average. This was a fairly typical
performance.
"I heard that from Lou (Piniella) for five
years," said Blowers, referring to Seattle's
manager, his former boss. "He'd always be
shaking his head the end of April. One
year he threatened to send me out to
Triple-A just to go play April down there."
"We're not going to ask him to show up
next year until May," Howe joked.
It's May now. So Blowers was ready
when the A's rallied in the eighth, erasing
Chicago's seemingly comfortable 7-2 lead.
"I was about ready to chalk it up," Howe
admitted.
With one out, Rafael Bournigal singled off
Chicago starter Scott Eyre. That's when
White Sox manager Jerry Manuel decided
the lefty had done enough and went to his
bullpen.
And the fun began.
Rickey Henderson, who had three hits,
singled off Tom Fordham. Jack Voigt's
double drove in one run. Ben Grieve
walked, loading the bases for Blowers.
Before he came to the plate, Manuel went
to his bullpen again, bringing in Bill Simas
(0-1). One pitch later, the bases were
empty. Now Simas walked Jason Giambi.
And he walked pinch-hitter Jason
McDonald. So when Scott Spiezio singled
to center, Giambi came around with what
proved to be the winning run. "I don't
think it (the rally) caught me by surprise,"
said Henderson, who needed a home run
for the cycle. "The biggest thing is how
well your team continues playing until the
last out. When they got ahead, we still
kept battling. It shows a lot about the
character of this club."
Blackman, Frank. "Big A's Comeback:Bumps, Bruises, Blowers". San Francisco Examiner. 18 May, 1998.
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