Opening day starter in July, Frankie Montas pitched two innings for the win. Liam Hendriks gave up McCann’s leadoff single in the ninth and closed out the game, a day after failing to do so.

Hendriks retired Mazara on a called third strike to end it. The A’s closer let out a howl of celebration and pumped his arms before receiving congratulatory hugs.

The low-budget A’s had not captured a winner-take-all postseason game since beating Hall of Famer Willie Mays and the New York Mets. in Game 7 of the 1973 World Series. Oakland had gone 1-15 in potential Sports Iron Ons clinchers since 2000.

Two relievers after Murphy’s homer, Matt Foster walked Mark Canha with the Batman Iron ons bases-loaded to tie it, then Matt Olson’s walk forced in another run that gave Oakland a 4-3 lead. Mazara hit a tying solitary in the fifth.

Luis Robert homered leading off the second then later added an RBI one for the White Sox, who were led by top MVP candidate José Abreu to snap a string of seven consecutive losing seasons to reach the postseason for the first time since 2008. They earned the AL Central that 12 months before losing 3-1 to Tampa Bay in the Division Series.

Loser Evan Marshall walked the bases loaded with a second straight free pass with two outs in the fifth to Marcus Semien before Pinder singled.

Melvin insisted Pinder’s bat would help the A’s in the playoffs, even after the infielder spent a stint on the injured list down the stretch with a strained right hamstring.

Melvin also turned to right-hander Mike Fiers to take the ball over lefty beginner Sean Manaea. The decision made perfect sense: The White colored Sox went 14-0 in the regular season against left-handed starters and beat southpaw Jesús Luzardo in Video game 1 on Tuesday. That diy t shirt iron on sticker prompted Sox star Tim Anderson to say, “I guess they haven’t completed their homework.”

A year ago, Melvin picked Manaea more than Fiers to start the wild-card video game Oakland lost to Tampa Bay after Fiers pitched his second career no-hitter against the Reds in May 2019 and went on to finish 15-4.

Fiers wanted the start that night but understood Melvin made a tough choice.