Final Bay Bridge Series kicks off with season-high crowd, ‘emotional’ Jose Canseco

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The atmosphere felt like old times in Oakland for Mark Kotsay and Bob Melvin.

And for Mark Canha and Matt Chapman, a couple of former Athletics stars now wearing the rival's jersey.

And even for a teary and touched José Canseco, one of the newest members of the A's Hall of Fame who never saw this honor coming.

“I'd like to thank the fans. I'm an emotional wreck right now,” the former Bash Brother with Mark McGwire said. “I can't believe I've been given this chance, the opportunity to be honored. ... I wish I could give the fans right now a forearm bash to everybody. Incredible memories here with the Oakland A's.”

He was hardly the only one overcome by it all as the A’s and Giants played the first of two games that will mark the final Bay Bridge Series in Oakland. Even the Wave made a special and rare appearance by fans all the way to the upper decks.

With such nostalgia and an energetic crowd filling the Coliseum and many chanting, “Let's Go Oakland!” this was reminiscent of the franchise's glory days. A season-high 37,551 fans turned up for the Saturday matinee, won 2-0 by the home team.

Tony La Russa was here. Fellow Hall of Famers Dennis Eckersley and Rickey Henderson were, too. Miguel Tejada came back to be honored in the same group with Canseco.

“The excitement and the energy in the stadium today was amazing. One thing I want to say is that the A's fans showed up today, they showed up in big numbers, bigger than the Giants fans today,” said Kotsay, a former A's outfielder and now third-year Oakland manager who replaced his former mentor, Melvin. “That was special, it was something that you can't replace and that we'll remember.”

Melvin, the Giants manager who spent 11 seasons managing the A’s from 2011-21, couldn’t quite believe this weekend would mark his club’s final two games at the Coliseum, saying “unfortunately that’s the case.”

The A’s are scheduled to play the next three years in Sacramento before a planned move to Las Vegas for the 2028 campaign.

“I’ve been here a lot and I love this place,” Melvin said. “So I’m going to miss it, it’s going to be sad. ... Probably a little bit more, I don’t want to say emphasis (because) you’re trying to win every game, but this is the last Bay Bridge Series so it would be nice to play well.”

It already had been a turn-back-the-clock kind of day, as the A’s introduced their new Hall of Famers.

“We got a great win in front of our home crowd,” Kotsay said. “We've got one more (Sunday) against the Giants to take care of it.”

Kotsay appreciated arriving at the ballpark around 9 a.m. Saturday to see fans already waiting in line to get into the parking lot and begin tailgating — something not seen around here much with the divisive feelings between fans and an ownership set on leaving.

“The reality is this is the last series between the Giants and A's in this stadium,” Kotsay said. “I'm sure when it's all said and done, it'd be best to wait 'til then to describe the emotion.”

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Former Oakland Athletics player Miguel Tejada, right, is inducted into the team's Hall of Fame before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Oakland Athletics' Michel Otañez pitches to a San Francisco Giants batter during the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Former Oakland Athletics player Jose Canseco, right, is helped into his green jacket by Tony La Russa, left, after being inducted into the team's Hall of Fame before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Former baseball player Jose Canseco, right, waves to the crowd while being introduced during an Oakland Athletics' Hall of Fame ceremony before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Former Oakland Athletics player Jose Canseco, foreground, is introduced during the team's Hall of Fame ceremony before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Former Oakland Athletics player Miguel Tejada speaks after being inducted into the team's Hall of Fame before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Former Oakland Athletics player Jose Canseco speaks after being inducted into the team's Hall of Fame before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Former baseball player Jose Canseco, right, wipes away tears after being being inducted into the Oakland Athletics' Hall of Fame before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. Miguel Tejada, left, was also inducted. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks took steps last season to prevent pitcher Merrill Kelly from cramping up, a plan that allowed the right-hander to play a key role during their World Series run.

A right hamstring cramp derailed Kelly's start in the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, but neither the Diamondbacks nor the right-hander are overly concerned.

“We’ve been sticking to that (routine) pretty much this year and I think that’s one of the reasons why it’s so frustrating,” Kelly said. “That's been kind of the theme: I won't feel anything and it will tag me out of nowhere.”

Kelly had a solid start going against the Rangers, giving up two runs through the first four innings. After a leadoff walk, Kelly winced following a pitch to Marcus Simien with no outs in the fifth inning.

The right-hander leaned forward in an attempt to stretch out the hamstring as Arizona's trainer and manager Torey Lovullo visited him on the mound. Lovullo made a quick decision to remove Kelly from the game, particularly with the Diamondbacks well on their way to a 14-4 win.

“I hate the fact that we have to take them off field and I made the decision on the field,” Lovullo said. "But I think that’s been his track record; he speaks up. We’ve put everything in place to help him."

Kelly dealt with cramps in multiple games last season, particularly at Chase Field, which has a retractable roof but still gets hot on the field even when it's closed.

Kelly worked with the Diamondbacks' medical staff and nutritionist to try preventing further cramping issues and it worked out well. The right-hander played a key role in Arizona's late-season run into the playoffs and all the way to the World Series.

With Arizona in a tight NL playoff race, Kelly's latest cramping issue could be a huge concern, but the Diamondbacks know they have a plan in place that's worked before. Kelly is not expected to miss his next start.

“Just like any other time I’ve cramped, no reservations about making my next start,” Kelly said. “I just do the best I can do to continue to hydrate. Obviously, we’re going to talk to the training staff and our doctors, and start turning over some more leaves and see what we got."

Kelly returned from the 60-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation on Aug. 11 and had gone 4-0 heading into his start against Texas.

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly throws against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

An injured Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly walks off the field with a member of the training staff during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)