doubling down

The Oakland A’s needed to win. Seth Smith needed a breakout game. With September pressure in the air, both things happened today at Comerica Park in Detroit, where the former Ole Miss standout cranked out three hits and four RBIs and his A’s walloped the Tigers 12-4. Oakland, battling Detroit, among others, in the American League wild card chase, had lost the first two games of the series and three straight overall. Smith was in a slump (see previous post), but it didn’t look that way today. The left-handed hitting slugger went 3-for-4 with a walk, belted his 14th home run and scored three times. Though he’s hitting just .249, Smith’s RBI total is up to 50 and he’s only three homers shy of equaling his single-season high. Perhaps today was the start of a strong finish for both team and player. Now’s the time. Autumn’s closing in.