Mon, Apr 18, 2005 page20

• Athletics win after error

  • AP
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  After Rich Harden and Jarrod Washburn dueled through eight scoreless innings, Nick Swisher scored from first base on reliever Scot Shields' throwing error in the 10th inning of the Oakland Athletics' 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday.

  The A's hadn't scored in 14 innings before their extra-inning rally against Shields (2-1), who threw just six pitches.

  "Who thinks you're going to go from first to home on a bunt?" Swisher asked. "It felt like as soon as I hit third base, [on-deck hitter Mark] Kotsay was telling me to slide. We had to take a shot, though."

  Swisher led off the 10th with a single, and Shields bobbled Marco Scutaro's sacrifice -- and then made a bouncing throw past Chone Figgins covering first base. Swisher slid headfirst into home plate, ahead of Vladimir Guerrero's throw from right field.

  "It was a goofy play, but we'll take it," said Kotsay, the only Oakland player batting above .300. "It's no secret our offense is struggling a little bit, and we've got to do things to score runs."

  Kiko Calero (2-0) pitched two perfect innings of relief for the victory, while Harden and Washburn got no decisions despite outstanding starts.

  Orioles 7, Yankees 6

  In Baltimore, Brian Roberts hit a three-run homer off Tom Gordon to cap a five-run seventh inning, and Baltimore rallied to beat the slumping New York.

  The Yankees have lost three straight and five of six to fall into last place in the American League East.

  Roberts went 2-for-4 with two walks to raise his batting average to .444. The 5-foot-9 second baseman already has five home runs, matching his career high.

  The Orioles trailed 6-2 before sending eight batters to the plate in the seventh. After Javy Lopez and Jay Gibbons hit RBI singles off Tanyon Sturtze, Roberts sent a 2-1 pitch from Gordon (0-2) over the right-field scoreboard to give Baltimore its first lead.

  Steve Kline (2-1) pitched one scoreless inning, and B.J. Ryan got four outs for his second save.

  Red Sox 6, Devil Rays 2

  In Boston, Manny Ramirez ended his longest homerless drought to start a season with a grand slam and two-run shot, and Boston's Matt Clement beat Tampa Bay to win in his Fenway Park debut.

  Ramirez hit a two-run shot in the third inning, his 39th at-bat this season. In 2003, he didn't connect until his 35th at-bat. He hit the 18th grand slam of his career in the sixth.

  Alex Gonzalez went 4-for-4 with a double and three singles for the Devil Rays.

  Dewon Brazelton (0-3) remained winless in his career on the road, dropping to 0-12 in 16 starts. He allowed six runs on six hits in 3 2-3 innings while walking six and striking out one.

  White Sox 2, Mariners 1

  In Chicago, Mark Buehrle pitched a three-hitter and struck out 12, and Paul Konerko hit a pair of home runs to lead Chicago over Seattle in a game that took just 1 hour, 39 minutes.

  Buehrle (2-1) lost his shutout bid in the ninth inning when Ichiro Suzuki tripled and scored on Adrian Beltre's groundout to first. Suzuki had all three Mariners' hits.

  Buehrle outdueled Ryan Franklin for the 16th complete game of his career and gave the White Sox their eighth straight victory over the Mariners, a streak that started last July 9.

  Franklin (1-1) allowed two runs and four hits over eight innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

  Twins 6, Indians 4

  In Cleveland, Lew Ford and Torii Hunter each hit three-run homers to help Minnesota down Cleveland for its sixth straight win.

  Dave Gassner (1-0) worked six strong innings to become the first Twins pitcher to win his major league debut since Eric Milton beat Kansas City on April 5, 1998.

  Joe Nathan got one out for his fourth save.

  Jon Lieber outdueled John Smoltz and Chase Utley had a tiebreaking RBI single and game-saving catch, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday.

  Lieber (3-0) allowed one run and seven hits in eight innings to win his third straight start since joining the Phillies. Billy Wagner pitched a shaky ninth for his second save. He allowed two hits, two long fly outs and threw a wild pitch, but second baseman Utley made a diving, backhanded catch on Brian Jordan's liner to end it with runners at second and third.

  Jimmy Rollins hit a tying homer off Smoltz (0-3) in the sixth, helping the Phillies snap a three-game losing streak.

  Mets 4, Marlins 3

  In New York, Ramon Castro singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning, leading New York over Florida for its sixth straight victory.

  Pedro Martinez struck out nine in a stellar home debut for New York -- but the Mets' new ace was outpitched by their old one, Al Leiter.

  The left-hander allowed only three hits in seven innings and left with a 2-1 lead before New York rallied against reliever Todd Jones in the eighth.

  Reds 3, Astros 2

  In Cincinnati, left-hander Eric Milton finally pitched like a pricey and prized acquisition, and the Cincinnati ended its 12-game losing streak against Houston.

  Milton (2-1) gave up three hits in seven innings, his first impressive showing in three starts for the team that made him the centerpiece of its offseason overhaul. Milton got a US$4 million bonus as part of a three-year, US$25.5 million deal last December.

  The Reds had to beat left-hander Andy Pettitte (0-1) to break one of the longest head-to-head losing streaks in franchise history.

  Danny Graves gave up a pinch-hit RBI single to Mike Lamb in the ninth, but finished the combined five-hitter to get his third save.

  Cardinals 5, Brewers 3

  In Milwaukee, Scott Rolen snapped out of his early season slump with a two-run homer and two singles to lead St. Louis over Milwaukee.

  St. Louis starter Chris Carpenter (2-1) left in the seventh inning with a 5-0 lead and the bases loaded. Brady Clark greeted reliever Al Reyes with a three-run double to make it 5-3.

  Jason Isringhausen pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save.

  Rolen, who entered batting .125 (4-for-32), homered in the first and hit singles in the fifth and seventh innings. The homer was his first of the season.

  Milwaukee starter Doug Davis (2-1) pitched 4 1-3 innings, giving up four runs -- three earned -- on six hits and two walks. He struck out two.

  Nationals 9, Diamondbacks 3

  In Washington, Vinny Castilla has yet to make an out at RFK Stadium, going 3-for-3 and driving in four runs for the second straight game to help Washington beat Arizona for its fourth straight win.

  John Patterson (1-1) threw seven shutout innings, and Washington broke open a tight game by sending 11 men to the plate and scoring seven runs in the seventh.

  Russ Ortiz (1-1) allowed four runs in six-plus innings.

  Luis Gonzalez hit three-run homer off reliever Luis Ayala in the eighth.

  Cubs 4, Pirates 3

  In Pittsburgh, Neifi Perez doubled in the go-ahead run in the seventh and Aramis Ramirez hit a three-run homer as Chicago beat Pittsburgh.

  Perez went 2-for-4, giving him nine hits in four games, and Ramirez hit his first homer since opening day. LaTroy Hawkins, who struggled frequently last season as the Cubs' closer, pitched the ninth for their first save of the season.
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