Athletics down Bucs, stay red hot against NL
PITTSBURGH – John Mabry’s single in the 10th inning drove in Oakland’s first run since Miguel Tejada’s two-run homer in the first, and the Athletics – again the best team in interleague play – beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 Wednesday night. Oakland won for the 11th time in 12 games and the 15th time in 18 games. The Athletics are 10-1 against the NL this season and 60-37 since interleague play began in 1997.
The Pirates have lost five of six to fall a season-low six games under .500.
The Athletics hadn’t gotten a hit off four Pittsburgh pitchers until Mabry’s single off Pittsburgh closer Mike Williams (1-2), who lost in extra innings for the second time in five games.
Williams started the inning by walking No. 8 hitter Terrence Long, who then stole second – only his second stolen base all season – and kept going to third when shortstop Jack Wilson couldn’t come up with catcher Jason Kendall’s low throw.
Four Oakland relievers shut out Pittsburgh over the final four innings, with Chad Bradford (3-1) pitching the ninth for the victory and Billy Koch finishing up for his 17th save in 21 chances. He also saved Oakland’s 4-2 victory in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.
The Athletics opened a 2-0 lead in the first inning for the second straight night.
After leadoff batter Mark Ellis singled, Tejada followed a batter later with a drive over the center field wall for his 14th homer and fifth in 12 games. He has 16 RBIs over that span, including a pair of four-RBI games.
Pirates left-hander Joe Beimel settled down after that to limit Oakland to two singles before being lifted after five innings, striking out five and walking one in his third consecutive effective start. His first 21 appearances came in relief.
Brian Giles got a run back for Pittsburgh with a two-out solo homer in the third, his 17th. The Pirates tied it in the fifth on consecutive singles by Jack Wilson, Giles and Aramis Ramirez against Cory Lidle, who is winless in eight starts since April 26.
Lidle, 1-6 and in danger of being lifted from the rotation with another poor start, gave up nine hits in six innings but stranded at least one runner in every inning.
Lidle’s biggest out came in the third when, with two on and two outs, center fielder Long bounced off the wall in left-center running down Kevin Young’s long drive that appeared headed for extra bases. Long stayed down for a few moments after making the catch, but stayed in the game and singled in his next at-bat.
Lidle was lifted after Jason Kendall lined out sharply to shortstop to end the sixth with the potential go-ahead run on second.
NOTES: Pirates RF Craig Wilson went into the gap in right-center to make a backhand, shoetops-high catch of Mabry’s sinking line drive in the eighth. … Pirates 2B Pokey Reese has a career-high 11-game hitting streak (16-for-42). … Oakland is 3-2 and Pittsburgh is 2-2 in extra innings. Williams has both of Pittsburgh’s extra-inning losses.