OAKLAND – A win Sunday would have put a refreshing twist on the A’s dreary fortunes in front of the home fans this season.
Instead, their 5-4 defeat to the Giants made for some unwanted history.
The A’s set an Oakland record for most one-run losses in a season (33) and worst winning percentage in one-run games (.353, thanks to an 18-33 mark in those one-run contests).
The afternoon began with an uplifting tribute to “Big Three” members Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito. It ended with a sold-out Coliseum crowd witnessing an all-too-familiar formula – the A’s falling behind 5-0, only to raise their fans’ hopes with an inspiring comeback before ultimately falling short.