Oakland Athletics sweep Giants, claim Bay Bridge Series trophy

Aug 7, 2023, 9:59 AM

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 06: Seth Brown (L) #15 and Trevor May #65 of the Oakland Athletics cel...

(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

The Tom Pellack Memorial Bridge Trophy is heading back across the Bay to Oakland.

Although the Oakland Athletics are in the midst of a nightmare season both on-and-off the field, the A’s enjoyed a two-game sweep of their Bay Area neighbor San Francisco Giants at the Coliseum over the weekend.

Oakland (32-80) mounted a comeback win over the Giants (61-51) on Sunday, scoring four runs over the sixth and seventh innings to take an 8-6 lead–a score that would eventually be the final as the A’s celebrated a two-game Bay Bridge Series sweep.

Nick Allen goes deep AGAIN ‼️ pic.twitter.com/zRBrvoUFdy

— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) August 6, 2023

Sunday’s game was special for Athletics fans in attendance as the team inducted former slugger Jason Giambi into the team’s Hall of Fame.

Following the pregame ceremony, Oakland and San Francisco traded runs in a game that saw 14 runs and 20 base hits from both teams. Shortstop Nick Allen drilled two home runs, while catcher Shea Langeliers’ two-run single in the bottom of the seventh gave the A’s the lead for good.

At long last, the A’s were able to claim the Bay Bridge Series trophy for the first time since 2020 after taking the two-game series from San Francisco.

“It’s a fun series; it’s a competitive series. I think the guys feel that as well,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said postgame. “There was tons of energy, in these last two days, in the stands, which we love. When these fans, when they come out and give their support, there’s no better fans in baseball to play in front of.”

While it might have just been two games, fans showed up in numbers to provide Oakland with its best attendance numbers of the season: 37,500 fans on Saturday and 28,000 on Sunday.

Langeliers for the lead 💪 pic.twitter.com/RPXh11KpBp

— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) August 6, 2023

Athletics pitcher and Bay Area native Lucas Erceg spoke about the atmosphere following Sunday’s game, stating it was a memorable weekend at the Coliseum.

“I think the [A’s and Giants] fans do a really good job of being appreciative of the baseball that we have here, and the unity that we kind of bring together whether it’s in San Francisco or in Oakland. They show out and they show up, and they’re really passionate, which is how I grew up to love the game. So to be a part of that on the field was special.”