A’S PUNK SEATTLE TWICE!Two Walk-Offs, One 19-Run Disaster: How Did the A’s Win This Series?

Seattle scored 31 runs. The A’s scored only 15. Somehow, the A’s still won the series—and sent the Mariners out of Sacramento with two walk-off losses packed securely inside their luggage. On this episode of The Habit Hunter, Tim “Hobbes” Byrnes investigates the trends, tells, and tendencies behind one of the strangest series victories of the season. Lawrence Butler delivered three home runs, six RBIs and a little ninth-inning revenge. Shea Langeliers returned with an immediate impact. Donovan Walton produced an unforgettable walk-off, while Zach Gelof helped ignite Sunday’s comeback. But the celebration cannot erase the crime scene. The A’s surrendered 19 runs Saturday, their starters recorded only six strikeouts across the entire series, and Carlos Cortes made his ninth pitching appearance of the season. Is that merely a strange statistic—or evidence of a much larger failure involving roster construction, bullpen preparation and Mark Kotsay’s pitcher management? Hobbes breaks down all three games, examines Butler’s growth and continuing baserunning mistakes, questions how carefully Langeliers should be handled, and explains how the A’s won two games despite being outscored by 16 runs. Because once you see the habits… you can’t unsee them.