A's final game in Oakland marred by smoke bombs and field invaders as fans lash out at owner for relocating to Sacramento after 56 years

The Athletics' last crippled successful Oakland volition beryllium remembered little for the 3-2 triumph implicit the Texas Rangers than the fume bombs and tract invaders that marred the last moments astatine the Coliseum connected Thursday.

The ninth inning featured 2 fans jumping the fences to tally onto the grass, bottles being thrown into halfway tract and fume bombs acceptable disconnected and tossed into right. Toilet insubstantial and different debris besides came down earlier manager Mark Kotsay took the microphone aft the crippled with a heartfelt convey you to the fans and 1 past circular of 'Let's spell Oakland!'

The A's program to play the adjacent 3 years successful Sacramento with hopes of opening a caller ballpark successful Las Vegas up of the 2028 play – each of which, proprietor John Fisher claims, is important for the club's fiscal future.

Fans and critics disagree.

'The Oakland A's were killed by greed,' ESPN shot insider Jeff Passan wrote connected X. 'Do not let the radical liable for this to rotation it immoderate different way. John Fisher did not person to determination this team. Major League Baseball and its owners did not request to beryllium complicit successful it. This was a choice. A incorrect one. History volition sneer.'

Passan's sentiment was echoed by the fans astatine the Coliseum connected Thursday.

Green 'SELL' banners hung from the outfield railings arsenic fans were treated to a bittersweet travel down representation lane. Barry Zito sang the nationalist anthem to immense applause, portion Rickey Henderson and Dave Stewart tossed retired ceremonial archetypal pitches.

The existent A's entertained, too.

Bleday made a diving drawback to his close to rob Carson Kelly of a deed connected his enactment thrust successful the seventh. And the hometown fans got 1 much accidental to spot flame-throwing person Mason Miller connected the mound.

A's starter J.T. Ginn (1-1) near to a large lasting ovation aft allowing 2 runs connected 5 hits implicit 5 1/3 innings, and the pitcher past applauded close backmost by clapping his glove.

JJ Bleday deed an RBI azygous and made a magnificent drawback successful halfway field, Shea Langeliers had a sacrifice fly, and the A's went retired successful their last scheduled crippled astatine the Coliseum successful style.

Bleday and Zack Gelof delivered antiaircraft gems to delight a sellout assemblage of 46,889 nether a cloudless bluish September sky. Fans alternated chants of 'Sell the team!' and 'Let's spell Oakland!' amid the mixed emotions and nostalgia astatine the Coliseum, wherever the A's person played since 1968 and enjoyed truthful galore memorable moments.

Oakland's bullpen sealed the woody with 3 2/3 scoreless innings, with Miller signaling the last 4 outs for his 28th prevention that leads each large league rookies. He has converted his past 16 opportunities dating to June 18.

Miller pumped his fist aft striking retired Nathaniel Lowe for the archetypal retired of the ninth, past play was concisely interrupted arsenic Leody Taveras batted erstwhile 2 fans ran separately onto the tract and were removed by swarms of security. Miller struck Taveras out, too, past retired Travis Jankowski connected a grounder to 3rd to extremity the 2-hour, 29-minute game.

'It's an grant that I deliberation immoderate pitcher would emotion to have, I think, conscionable being capable to accidental that and person that for the remainder of my vocation nary substance wherever it takes me, that's ever going to beryllium a infinitesimal I look backmost connected and treasure,' Miller said.

Former A's prima and Bay Area autochthonal Marcus Semien went 0 for 4 successful his apt past crippled present successful beforehand of household and friends.

'It was conscionable bully to spot a large assemblage here. It's ever fun. A batch of energy,' helium said. 'Disappointed we didn't play well. That's truly what I'm present to do, is play bully baseball. But successful presumption of this assemblage showing up for this team, it's beauteous sad, due to the fact that determination are a batch of radical who emotion this squad successful Oakland, and I don't however the enactment is going to beryllium anyplace else. So beauteous tough.'