For one final time, the Athletics had an opportunity to play in front of their fans in Oakland. And for closer Mason Miller, he was ready to give them his absolute best.
The All-Star righty entered Thursday’s game in the eighth inning against the Rangers to go for a four-out save. And if there’s one thing fans can expect from Miller, it’s absolute gas on the radar gun. But even for Miller, Thursday’s outing was the kind of farewell performance that Oakland Coliseum has never seen — nor will it ever see again.
In front of a crowd of 46,889 and battling through two delays (a fan on the field and a smoke bomb), Miller threw a 103.8 mph fastball that was fouled off. He ended the game on a 103.5 mph fastball the next pitch.
https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1839427795140948227
https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1839426793599873480
That 103.8 mph fastball, though, was the fastest pitch an A’s pitcher has thrown at Oakland Coliseum in the Statcast era. And that just happened to be during the final at-bat in the stadium’s history.
How can you not be romantic about baseball?
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