Walk-off this way

The A's Coco Crisp receives a face full of whipped cream after his walk-off hit against the Yankees last weekend at the O.co Coliseum. (Associated Press)

“It ain’t over till it’s over,” baseball Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra famously said.

The version that’s been played before every bottom of the ninth on the scoreboard at the O.co Coliseum for years now, of course, has John Belushi, as Bluto in “Animal House,” exhorting his buddies that “It ain’t over till we decide it is!”

However you want to state it, though, this season, the message is getting through. The A’s lead the majors in games won in the final at-bat and, as the pennant races take shape, are giving the game’s elites a run for their money.

With a single to right in the bottom of the 12th inning Sunday to complete the A’s four-game sweep of the mighty Yankees, Coco Crisp became the 10th member of the team to do the honors – Crisp has done it twice -- in their 11 walk-off victories. Six of those were in their past 11 home games.

You don’t knock off the Yanks in four straight these days and not have the world take notice. Suddenly, everyone knows what Oakland fans have been gradually coming to realize this season: there’s something happening here.



For the complete article see the 07-28-2012 issue.

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