--RHP Keith Foulke had a rough spring after coming out of a year-long retirement to pitch for the A's. His ERA in Arizona was nearly 16.00, mostly, Foulke said, because he was trying to fine-tune things after missing so much time. He made some adjustments, and his first time out in the regular season, he pitched a 1-2-3 inning, retiring Boston's Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. On Wednesday, he struck out Ramirez looking with a man at second to end the eighth inning.

--CF Chris Denorfia made his first regular-season start for the A's, in part because the Red Sox started a left-hander, Jon Lester, and he knocked in Oakland's first run with a two-out single in the second. It stills appear likely that Denorfia will be sent out to get everyday playing time in Class AAA if Carlos Gonzalez is put on the roster this weekend. Denorfia missed all of last year after elbow ligament replacement surgery, and his timing has appeared off at the plate much of the spring.

--LHP Greg Smith, who had a super spring, allowing only two runs, clearly is in line to be the first starter called up from Class AAA Sacramento if the A's have a need. Smith will pitch Friday night's exhibition game at San Francisco, an indication of how the team views him. RHP Justin Duchscherer will pitch Saturday against the Giants, and LHP Dana Eveland will go on Sunday.

--RHP Andrew Brown said he felt nearly recovered from the abdominal pain that sidelined him Tuesday night. He was available in the bullpen for the second game against Boston, but he joked that the team charter after the game might have to be diverted to Hawaii if he does turn out to have appendicitis, as was feared before he had tests that cleared him to play.

--OF Emil Brown became the A's ninth Opening Day left fielder in nine years, and he had a rough evening: Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury robbed him of extra bases with a spectacular catch in center, and Brown was thrown out in a rundown between second and third in the bottom of the 10th for the second out of the inning. Bobby Crosby and Jack Hannahan followed with hits, making the blunder all the more glaring. Brown said he thought the throw from the outfield was going home, and he said it was a bad baserunning mistake. Brown recovered well the next night, banging a three-run homer in the third inning off Boston LHP Jon Lester.

BY THE NUMBERS
26 -- Spring games the A's will play this year, their lowest number since 1984.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"You have to be so prepared. You can't just FedEx something in the next day. And I heard they don't have sunflower seeds there, so we're bringing our own." -- Steve Vucinich, the A's equipment manager, on packing up for Japan.

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