Well…

This was my first game in about 2 weeks, and I was excited to be back!

It was MLB Network backpack day (joy) and my mom and I got there at 9:45, for the 11am gate opening, 1pm game time.

My dad would be showing up later with my grandmother and uncle, as they had seats behind the A’s bullpen.

It was the final game before the All Star Break, so we were hoping to hear Grant Balfour announced as Bartolo Colon’s replacement.

I decided to take a lap around the stadium first, as I usually do.

As I walked past Gate B, I noticed the stairs to BB were not closed off, so I walked up.

This was the scene from the top.

My right.

My left.

This was the best view I could get of inside. Nothing that I could see going on.

I kept walking and headed past Gate C.

This was sitting just outside Gate D.

I continued on past Gate A.

Where the stairs were also not yet closed off.

Nothing fancy inside.

I walked back up to MM.

We were 2 of the 7 people in line…

About 30 minutes before the Gates opened, this truck drove into the Eastside Club.

This is what was on it. Table cloth or something?

This was just after Will, Ross, and Wiggi showed up. There was a small pile of flags and banners.

This was also the time that the backpacks arrived in boxes.

This is what it said on the side.

Since there were only 4 boxes, that meant there were 800 jerseys at this gate. That’s only 5% of them. Clearly, MM is not very popular.

The gates opened at 11:05, where I ran inside to the Red Sox bullpen.

It was packed, I had no way to move from where I was standing. It was very empty when I got there, I was too busy focusing on the players to notice. Even when I called out to players, nothing worked. I got shut out from the Red Sox. That’s all.

I then went over to the A’s bullpen, where Ross, Will, and Drew were standing.

They were over there so Drew could get his flag signed.

Meanwhile, A’s pitchers were stretching.

It was even more crowded. Nothing. So yep. I was shut out for both the Red Sox and A’s.

Eventually, John Jaso came out to stretch and get ready for the game.

As he was finishing stretches, All-Star Bartolo Colon came out to run and get loose for the game.

Meanwhile, Ryan Lavarnaway was getting loose as well, on the Red Sox side.

Last season, when the Red Sox came to town, I had tried to figure out the names of their two bullpen catchers, but had no luck. After a bit of reserach, one of them is #86, Brian Abraham.

The other, is #88, Alex Martinez.

As Boston’s starting pitcher, Brandon Workman was warming up, A’s starter Bartolo Colon was doing the same.

One of the players on the Red Sox is 2012 Athletic Johnny Gomes.

As both teams started stretching, former teammates David Ortiz and Josh Reddick enjoyed a conversation with each other

Right before the national anthem, there was this cool ceremony, as it was Law Enforcement Day.

Ryan Lavarnaway was busy warming up in the final minutes before the first pitch.

As it was a Sunday game, little leaguers got to take the field with A’s players for the national anthem.

I loved the socks that Eric Sogard and Josh Reddick were wearing.

Seriously, these stirrups don’t get any more awesome.

Like I mentioned earlier in the entry, I was awaiting an announcement on Grant Balfour being chosen to the All Star game. Since Bartolo was pitching this Sunday, the game before the All Star game, he would not be able to pitch, allowing a replacement to be chose. It was highly speculated that his replacement would be Grant Balfour, and sure enough, between the 2nd and 3rd innings, Balfour’s entrance song, One, started playing on the Coliseum speakers, the announcement was put up on the screen, and everyone started All Star RAGING!!!!

As for the game itself, Dustin Pedroia got the scoring started in the top of the 6th with an RBI single.

Meanwhile, Brandon Workman was in his first MLB Start, and he was dominating the Oakland offense.

Through the first 6 innings, he had only allowed 1 baserunner. John Jaso walked in the 4th.

Colon, meanwhile, was also pitching effectively. After allowing 3 hits in the first two innings, he pitched 1-2-3 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings.

However, he allowed 3 singles in the 6th, the 3rd of those being the Pedroia RBI single I earlier mentioned

In the top of the 7th, Mike Carp doubled to lead off the inning, then scored on a Brock Holt base hit.

This prompted Sean Doolittle to enter the game, shutting down the Red Sox in the 7th.

At this point, the A’s had still not managed a hit, until Coco Crisp lead off the inning with a single.

After a John Jaso popout, Josh Donaldson stepped to the plate.

And smashed a home run to center field tying the game at 2.

Craig Breslow, former Athletic, was then brought into the game, to finish off the 7th inning.After a quiet 8th inning, it was time to head into the top of the 9th. It was time for Grant Balfour to come into the game.

This meant it was time to RAGE!!

I guess I was on TV, so thanks to Ryan Dalton for sending me this picture.

The inning was lead off by Johnny Gomes, who struck out, then began to argue with the umpire.

He was ejected…

I don’t remember exactly what he was upset by, but he was upset.

Nobody scored in the 9th inning, so the game headed into extras. Ryan Cook came on to pitch the 10th.

He pitched a solid inning, only allowing a single to Jacoby Ellsbury.

Yoenis Cespedes singled to lead off the bottom of the 10th.

Then the umpires convened for a moment.

And Cespedes was standing on second, due to the throwing error from the Red Sox shortstop.

John Farrell was quite upset.

Josh Reddick proceded to strike out.

Which was followed by Cespedes getting thrown out trying to steal 3rd and Nate Freiman grounding out.

Ryan Lavarnaway was hit by a pitch to load the bases in the 11th inning for the Sox.

However, Cook was able to get out of it.

This sent the A’s to the bottom of the 11th inning.

After a Chris Young walk, Eric Sogard laid down a sac bunt.

This put Chris Young on 2nd base with 1 out.

After a Coco Crisp groundout and Derek Norris walk, Josh Donaldson stepped to the plate and connected.

On a base hit, bringing Chris Young around to score!

Donaldson set up for his post-game interview with CSN.

While Jaso did one for NESN.

As customary for an A’s walk-off win, Josh Reddick came in with the pie.

He brought it to Donaldson’s face.

As JD braced himself for the hit.

BOOM!

Reddick slammed the pies into Josh Donaldson’s face!

He was then given a towel to wipe it off with.

Sure, I didn’t snag a ball, but it was a lot of fun out at the ballpark!

BALLHAWKING STATS:

• 19th Game this Year (14th MLB Game)
• 0 Balls at this Game
• 14 balls in 14 MLB games this season = 1 Ball Per Game
• 42 Lifetime MLB Baseballs
• 93 Lifetime Baseballs

Nick Badders is a unofficial reporter for MLB.com. He writes the blog, 7000 Coliseum Way, and you can follow him on Twitter @nickbatters or his blog @7000ColiseumWay. You can also LIKE his blog on Facebook or follow him @nickbatters or his blog @7000ColiseumWay on Instagram. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.