We were treated to an interesting starting pitching matchup for the closing contest of our three-game visit to the Oakland Alameda-County Coliseum Wednesday afternoon.

Under brilliant light-blue skies and intense sunshine offset by a cool, stiff breeze, 2012 NL Cy Young award winner R-A Dickey battled how-does-he-do-it-round-mound-of-chemically-aided-pound-and-ground Bartolo Colon.

The week started with murmurs that Colon was lumped in with the cluster of players in MLB’s investigative crosshairs.  As Buster Olney discussed the prospect of a Biogenesis doomsday on last Sunday night’s ESPN baseball telecast, it sounded to me as if Colon had about as much chance of making Wednesday’s start as the band Foxygen has at remaining intact for its September appearance at Woodsist Fest.

Turns out Colon’s 50-game banishment for a higher-than-allowed testosterone level last year is being considered time served for any linkage with Tony Bosch.

The Jays defense lost sight of three balls in the sun and committed four errors overall in this one.  Dickey was forced to get some big outs in tough spots and Toronto ending up winning in 10 innings.

There were thousands of children in the stands as part of school or summer camp outings.  The kids near us were really well-behaved and had a lot of fun – in part thanks to the patient adults responsible for their care at the game.

I cannot wholeheartedly endorse the hotel we stayed at in San Francisco.  Yes, the Adante on Geary is in a great location.  Situated on a plateau just below Lower Nob Hill’s steepest slope, the room was clean and the rate was fair relative to the other independently-run lodging spots in the neighborhood.  The Adante is just a seven-minute walk to the Powell St. BART stop.

Unfortunately, my Dad and I encountered a problem at the Adante on our second night of three.  When my Dad went to take a before-slumber shower, he pulled the pin that diverts the flow of water from the tub to the showerhead and it broke loose.  We had lost our ability to take a shower.  We took baths instead but we were disappointed to discover that the hotel’s staff failed to follow through with what seemed like a simple plumbing fix despite ample opportunity a full day later.  There was also a good amount of noise in both the hallway and in the alley below outside our always open sixth-floor window.  On check-out early Thursday morning, the strung-out, all-night desk clerk sent an unnecessary chill into our departure by painting an ominous picture of the dangers of walking to the BART stop in the dark.  Not only did the guy have his facts completely wrong about the BART’s hours of service, he misstated the timing of the looming strike by BART employees.  The clerk’s overplay on the hotel’s ($15-per) airport shuttle hustle smelled fishy – and so off we were into the early morning dark for a seamless ride on the train.

We ate well.  As always seems to be the case in San Francisco – my favorite dining experiences were of the breakfast variety.  The spicy pork and kimchee breakfast sandwich at HRD Coffee Shop on 3rd Street was incredible.  Even better was the breakfast at Boogaloo on 22nd Street in the Mission.

As luck would have it, my cousin Greg and his travel party were in town and so we met up for a cold one Wednesday night at Thieves Tavern on 14th and Guerrero.

My vacation continues Friday as I attempt to reach Durham, NC to see my longtime friend Roberta and her family.

Much more to say about the A’s baseball experience but I have to do that down the road.