OAKLAND, Calif. -- When he looked back Monday to his time with the Oakland Athletics in 2014, Kansas City Royals right-hander Jason Hammel had bittersweet memories.
Hammel said he loved his three-month stint with the A's after coming to Oakland from the Chicago Cubs on July 5 that season, along with right-hander Jeff Samardzija, as part of a five-player trade.
But Hammel can't forget his final pitch as an Athletic, in the American League wild-card game against Kansas City at Kauffman Stadium. The game, which Oakland led 7-3 through seven innings, was tied 8-8 in the bottom of the 12th with two outs and Christian Colon on first base when Hammel came on to face Royals catcher Salvador Perez.