I turned on today’s game in the bottom of the 4th inning. The A’s were just about to score two unearned runs off James Shields and take a 4-0 lead. I thought, this is cool. The A’s look like they’re going to win this series.

And yes, I noticed when Dallas Braden took the hill in the 5th inning that he had yet to give up a hit. And the potential of what the game could become entered the back of my mind. But it was only the 5th inning. I’ve had that thought enter the back of my mind in 5th innings several times before. I’m sure it happened a few times in the Hudson/Zito/Mulder days.

So then Dallas got through the 5th, and then the 6th innings. The thought was, by then, in the forefront of my mind, as I know it was for Ray Fosse and Glen Kuiper, the 12,000+ at the Coliseum, and everyone watching on TV.

I remembered how I felt in July of 2006 when Rich Harden took a no-hitter into the 7th inning against the Rangers. Alfonso Soriano broke it up and I was disappointed. These kinds of things usually end in disappointment, so I was trying not to get my hopes up.

Dallas got through the 7th and the 8th innings. And I was like, holy crap. Here we go.

Then I thought back to that game in 2007 when Curt Schilling had no-hit the A’s through 8 2/3 innings before Shannon Stewart broke it up. I was relieved the A’s did not end up being no-hit, and now, here were were on the other side of things.

Thankfully it was a quick 9th. When the last out made its way to Cliff Pennington, I held my breath as he throw the ball. And good for Cliffy and Dallas and the A’s, it was an accurate throw. PERFECT. GAME.

I hope Dallas Braden is an Oakland A forever.