GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: OAKLAND (23-23) at BALTIMORE (21-26)

Haren, Swisher lead Athletics past Orioles

<h3>OAKLAND 3, BALTIMORE 2</h3>BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics won again at whathas apparently become their East Coast home-away-from-home.

Dan Haren pitched seven strong innings and Nick Swisher hit atwo-run homer as the Athletics topped the Baltimore Orioles,3-2, in the opener of a three-game on Friday.

Hiram Bocachica also drove in a run for Oakland, which has won14 of their last 16 games in Oriole Park at Camden Yards,including all three games here this season.

Haren (5-2) allowed one run, two hits and one walk whilestriking out three. The 6-5 righthander, who retired 11 in arow between the third and sixth innings, improved to 3-0 with a1.67 ERA in four career starts at Camden Yards.

Alan Embree held off Baltimore threats in the eighth and ninthto record his second save of the season.

Swisher put the Athletics ahead, 2-1, in the third inning with atwo-run blast off Baltimore starter Erik Bedard (3-3), who hasnot won a game since April 18.

It was Swisher's seventh home run of the season and thirdagainst the Orioles, as he hit two longballs in a victory hereon April 23.

Haren struggled in the first inning, throwing 25 pitches andallowing an RBI single to Miguel Tejada, but allowed just onehit and hit a batter through his next six innings. The26-year-old has allowed three runs or less in all 11 of hisstarts this season and leads the American League with a 1.73ERA.

Bedard allowed three runs - two earned - and six hits in seveninnings. The lefthander, who has not earned a victory in hislast seven starts, walked three and struck out eight.

Baltimore cut the lead to 3-2 when Kevin Millar hit a one-outsolo homer in the eighth off Jay Marshall, who then allowed asingle to Corey Patterson. With Kiko Calero in the game to faceJay Payton, Patterson moved into scoring position with a stealof second.

After Payton flew out to left, Embree entered the game and endedthe threat by getting Brian Roberts to fly out to right.

The Orioles made things interesting in the ninth, getting thetying run to second base with one out.

Embree allowed a lead off walk to Nick Markakis in the ninthbefore getting Miguel Tejada to fly out. Aubrey Huff movedMarkakis to second base with a single to left field, beforebeing replaced by pinch runner Freddie Bynum.

Ramon Hernandez followed with a potential double-play ball toshortstop Bobby Crosby, but Bynum slid hard into Mark Ellis atsecond base to prevent the twin-killing from being completed.

With two outs and the tying run 90 feet from home plate, Embreestruck out Jay Gibbons to end the game.

 

Haren, Swisher lead Athletics past Orioles

<h3>OAKLAND 3, BALTIMORE 2</h3>BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics won again at whathas apparently become their East Coast home-away-from-home.

Dan Haren pitched seven strong innings and Nick Swisher hit atwo-run homer as the Athletics topped the Baltimore Orioles,3-2, in the opener of a three-game set on Friday.

Hiram Bocachica also drove in a run for Oakland, which has won14 of their last 16 games in Oriole Park at Camden Yards,including all three games here this season.

Haren (5-2) allowed one run, two hits and one walk whilestriking out three. The 6-5 righthander, who retired 11 in arow between the third and sixth innings, improved to 3-0 with a1.67 ERA in four career starts at Camden Yards.

Alan Embree held off Baltimore threats in the eighth and ninthto record his second save of the season.

Swisher put the Athletics ahead, 2-1, in the third inning with atwo-run blast off Baltimore starter Erik Bedard (3-3), who hasnot won a game since April 18.

It was Swisher's seventh home run of the season and thirdagainst the Orioles, as he hit two longballs in a victory hereon April 23.

Haren struggled in the first inning, throwing 25 pitches andallowing an RBI single to Miguel Tejada, but allowed just onehit and hit a batter through his next six innings. The26-year-old has allowed three runs or less in all 11 of hisstarts this season and leads the American League with a 1.73ERA.

Bedard allowed three runs - two earned - and six hits in seveninnings. The lefthander, who has not earned a victory in hislast seven starts, walked three and struck out eight.

Baltimore cut the lead to 3-2 when Kevin Millar hit a one-outsolo homer in the eighth off Jay Marshall, who then allowed asingle to Corey Patterson. With Kiko Calero in the game to faceJay Payton, Patterson moved into scoring position with a stealof second.

After Payton flew out to left, Embree entered the game and endedthe threat by getting Brian Roberts to fly out to right.

The Orioles made things interesting in the ninth, getting thetying run to second base with one out.

Embree allowed a lead off walk to Nick Markakis in the ninthbefore getting Miguel Tejada to fly out. Aubrey Huff movedMarkakis to second base with a single to left field, beforebeing replaced by pinch runner Freddie Bynum.

Ramon Hernandez followed with a potential double-play ball toshortstop Bobby Crosby, but Bynum slid hard into Mark Ellis atsecond base to prevent the twin-killing from being completed.

With two outs and the tying run 90 feet from home plate, Embreestruck out Jay Gibbons to end the game.

 

Haren, Swisher lead Athletics past Orioles

<h3>OAKLAND 3, BALTIMORE 2</h3>BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics won again at whathas apparently become their East Coast home-away-from-home.

Dan Haren pitched seven strong innings and Nick Swisher hit atwo-run homer as the Athletics topped the Baltimore Orioles,3-2, in the opener of a three-game set on Friday.

Hiram Bocachica also drove in a run for Oakland, which has won14 of their last 16 games in Oriole Park at Camden Yards,including all three games here this season.

"(Haren) found his breaking ball after the first inning and thengot into rhythm once he found his fastball," Athletics managerBob Geren said. "He had a nice string in the game where he wasunhittable also."

Haren (5-2) allowed one run, two hits and one walk whilestriking out three. The 6-5 righthander, who retired 11 in arow between the third and sixth innings, improved to 3-0 with a1.67 ERA in four career starts at Camden Yards.

Alan Embree held off Baltimore threats in the eighth and ninthto record his second save of the season.

"We had a closer go down, so I've had a few opportunities,"Embree said. "I appreciate that (Geren) has that confidence inme. I enjoy getting the ball in big situations. It's newterritory for me, but I keep the same approach as I would in theseventh or eighth innings."

Oakland's usual closer, Huston Street, has been on the disabledlist since May 13 with an ulnar nerve irritation.

Swisher put the Athletics ahead, 2-1, in the third inning with atwo-run blast off Baltimore starter Erik Bedard (3-3), who hasnot won a game since April 18.

"It was a fastball down and I hit it off the end of the bat,"Swisher said. "That guy can pitch. You are lucky to get onegood pitch all game to hit off him."

It was Swisher's seventh home run of the season and thirdagainst the Orioles, as he hit two long balls in a victoryhere on April 23.

Haren struggled in the first inning, throwing 25 pitches andallowing an RBI single to Miguel Tejada, but allowed just onehit and hit a batter through his next six innings. The26-year-old has allowed three runs or less in all 11 of hisstarts this season and leads the American League with a 1.73ERA.

"I didn't have my best stuff tonight," Haren said. "I wasthinking it was going to be a long night, but (catcher JasonKendall) helped me stayed locked in. As the game went along, Igot stronger."

Bedard allowed three runs - two earned - and six hits in seveninnings. The lefthander, who has not earned a victory in hislast seven starts, walked three and struck out eight.

"Absolutely could not have asked for much more out of (Bedard),"Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo said. "The last two innings, Ithought were his best two. He really sucked it up for us andgot us through seven knowing the pen needed a little rest. Hekept us in that ballgame."

Baltimore cut the lead to 3-2 when Kevin Millar hit a one-outsolo homer in the eighth off Jay Marshall, who then allowed asingle to Corey Patterson. With Kiko Calero in the game to faceJay Payton, Patterson moved into scoring position with a stealof second.

After Payton flew out to left, Embree entered the game and endedthe threat by getting Brian Roberts to fly out to right.

The Orioles made things interesting in the ninth, getting thetying run to second base with one out.

Embree allowed a lead off walk to Nick Markakis in the ninthbefore getting Miguel Tejada to fly out. Aubrey Huff movedMarkakis to second base with a single to left field, beforebeing replaced by pinch runner Freddie Bynum.

"It's definitely more intense (closing games)," Embree said."It's very rare that I pitch in two innings, so I need to getused to it a little bit. Really need to learn to bare down onthe first batter. I'm glad the walk didn't end up hurting me."

Ramon Hernandez followed with a potential double-play ball toshortstop Bobby Crosby, but Bynum slid hard into Mark Ellis atsecond base to prevent the twin-killing from being completed.

With two outs and the tying run 90 feet from home plate, Embreestruck out Jay Gibbons to end the game.

"(Gibbons) had some good swings at it and just swung at one outof the zone on that last one," Perlozzo said.