The Oakland Athletics hit eight home runs against the Philadelphia Phillies, marking the first time this has happened in 25 years.
On any given day, something weird might happen in the MLB. The Philadelphia Phillies have been perhaps the league’s finest club, sweeping the star-studded Los Angeles Dodgers in their last season. The Oakland Athletics, although not utterly dreadful, have struggled all season. And yet, on a wonderful Sunday afternoon, the tables were turned.
The Athletics, fresh off a stunning victory against the same Phillies club two nights prior, tried to work more magic on Sunday. After a shaky start, Oakland annihilated the league-leading Philadelphia team. The final score was 18-3, which wouldn’t be unexpected if it weren’t for the fact that the Athletics destroyed the Phillies.
How can a team score 18 runs? Obviously, by hitting many home runs. The Athletics blasted eight home runs in their impressive victory over the Phillies. As ESPN pointed out, this has never happened in recent history.
“The Oakland Athletics smashed eight home runs in Sunday’s 18-3 rout of the first-place Philadelphia Phillies, the most homers in a game by any one MLB team in 25 years.”
It was a memorable night for the Athletics, who had previously stunned many fans by defeating the Phillies in the series opener 6-2. The NL East powerhouse dominated Game 2 with an 11-5 victory. However, Oakland took advantage of a depleted Philadelphia squad and caught them off guard.
Overall, the Athletics are performing well in comparison to their expectations. Sure, they’re not doing well right now, and they’re last in the AL West with a poor record. Considering the expectations in Oakland, they’re doing rather well. Everyone anticipated this club to flop and be the worst in baseball, but considering their quality, they have held their own very well.
Still, the Athletics face a significant relocation challenge. Their relocation to Las Vegas has been stalled owing to logistical challenges at the venue. It has placed the Oakland Raiders in limbo this season, with supporters rooting for a team that will soon leave them. The supporters have been attempting to persuade management to rethink, launching “reverse boycotts” to demonstrate the city’s commitment.
Despite the difficult conditions, the Athletics have attempted to remain competitive. The players have essentially used this season as a tryout for the next incarnation of the Oakland club. While the squad has yet to routinely perform well, we can applaud their effort.
Do the Athletics have a second-half burst in them to offer Oakland one final gift?
Gerard Angelo Samillano is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, where he mostly covers the NBA, NFL, MLB, and gaming. When he’s not writing for CP, Gerard may be found playing VALORANT or pick-up basketball. He’s also pursuing his BS Mathematics degree.
