Canseco at 40-40; Athletics Beat Brewers in 14 Innings, 9-8

Jose Canseco, as expected, formed his own club, the 40-40. Canseco, who hit his 40th home run last Sunday, stole 2 bases Friday night at Milwaukee to reach his coveted goal as the Oakland Athletics beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 9-8, in 14 innings.

There have been 10 major league players who have hit 30 home runs and stolen 30 bases in one season, but only the young Oakland star has gotten at least 40 of each.

Canseco singled off Juan Nieves in the first inning and stole second base. In the fifth, he beat out a bunt, then stole second again to reach 40. In the ninth, Canseco hit his 41st home run.

In 1973 for San Francisco, Bobby Bonds hit 43 home runs but stole only 39 bases to just miss. Bonds achieved 30-30 five times.

“I don’t see why I can’t make 50-50,” Canseco said. He probably didn’t mean this season, though.

“He (Canseco) is a very gifted athlete, probably the best power hitter in the game,” Bonds has said.

It turned out to be a heartbreaking night for the Brewers. After rallying for 5 runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, 8-8, the Brewers lost in the 14th when Doug Jennings hit a sacrifice fly to give the A’s the win.

The Brewers fell 5 games behind Boston in the AL East and have lost 6 more than the Red Sox with only 7 games left.