AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">OAKLAND (12) VS TAMPA BAY (2) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 6 1 2 2 0 0 3 .293 J DaVanon cf 4 3 1 0 2 1 2 .280 N Swisher 1b 6 3 3 1 0 2 3 .263 J Cust rf 2 1 1 3 2 1 2 .274 D Brown rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 M Piazza dh 5 1 4 5 0 0 0 .278 M Ellis 2b 5 1 2 0 0 0 3 .261 J Hannahan 3b 3 1 1 0 2 1 1 .250 K Suzuki c 3 1 1 1 1 0 3 .246 J Furmaniak ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .111 Totals 38 12 16 12 7 6 19 BATTING: 2B - M Piazza 2 (12, J Switzer, J Hammel); S Stewart (16, J Hammel); N Swisher (26, J Hammel). HR - J Cust (22, 2nd inning off J Hammel 1 on, 2 Out), M Piazza (5, 6th inning off B Stokes 1 on, 2 Out). SF - J Cust , K Suzuki. RBI - M Piazza 5 (33), S Stewart 2 (40), N Swisher (62), J Cust 3 (68), K Suzuki (19). 2-out RBI - M Piazza 4, J Cust 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 2, K Suzuki 1. Team LOB - 9. FIELDING: DP: 3 (M Ellis-J Furmaniak-N Swisher, J Furmaniak-N Swisher, K Calero-J Furmaniak-N Swisher). TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 2 0 2 1 1 0 0 .286 J Guzman 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .250 C Crawford lf 3 0 1 0 0 1 3 .310 J Gomes lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .257 B Upton cf 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 .304 C Pena 1b 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .263 D Young rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .284 B Harris 2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .286 G Norton dh 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .213 D Navarro c 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .203 J Wilson ss 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 .261 Totals 28 2 7 2 3 10 12 BATTING: 2B - G Norton (5, C Gaudin). 3B - J Wilson (3, K Calero). RBI - A Iwamura (20), J Gomes (35). 2-out RBI - A Iwamura. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Crawford 1, B Upton 1, D Young 1. GIDP - C Crawford, D Young, B Upton. Team LOB - 6. FIELDING: Outfield assists - D Young 2 (J DaVanon at Home, M Piazza at 2nd base), B Upton (J Hannahan at 2nd base). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 150 112 020 -- 12 TAMPA BAY - 001 000 01 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Gaudin 7 5 1 1 2 10 0 4.12 K Calero 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 5.85 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era J Hammel 3 5 6 6 5 2 1 7.43 B Stokes 3 7 4 4 1 1 1 7.49 J Switzer 2 4 2 2 1 1 0 12.00 J Salas 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.14 HBP - C Pena (by K Calero); J Furmaniak (by J Salas). Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 93-64; K Calero 30-18; J Hammel 78-44; B Stokes 54-32; J Switzer 38-22; J Salas 16-12. Ground balls-fly balls: C Gaudin 9-2; K Calero 3-0; J Hammel 1-5; B Stokes 2-4; J Switzer 2-3; J Salas 0-1. Batters faced: C Gaudin 26; K Calero 6; J Hammel 18; B Stokes 15; J Switzer 11; J Salas 4. UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - PITCHING CHANGE OAK: SANTIAGO CASILLA (3-1, 3.58) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 12, TAMPA BAY 2 DUE UP FOR TAMPABAY: B HARRIS (.286, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: S Casilla relieved K Calero. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 12 TAMPA BAY 2 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B Harris (.286, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - PITCHING CHANGE OAK: RUDDY LUGO (4-0, 7.30) IN THE 9TH SITUATION: NO RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 12, TAMPA BAY 2 DUE UP FOR TAMPABAY: B HARRIS (.286, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: R Lugo relieved S Casilla. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 12 TAMPA BAY 2 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B Harris (.286, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL OAKLAND AT TAMPA BAY NOTE: OAKLAND PITCHER SANTIAGO CASILLA WAS EJECTED BY HOME PLATE UMPIRE JOHN HIRSCHBECK IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH INNING FOR THROWING AT TAMPA BAY'S BRENDAN HARRIS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 5 0 1 1 2 0 2 0 12 16 0 TAMPA BAY 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 7 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN, KIKO CALERO (8TH), SANTIAGO CASILLA (9TH), RUDDY LUGO (9TH) AND KURT SUZUKI TAM - JASON HAMMEL, BRIAN STOKES (4TH), JON SWITZER (7TH), JUAN SALAS (9TH) AND DIONER NAVARRO HOME RUNS: OAK - JACK CUST (22) OFF JASON HAMMEL IN THE 2ND, 1 ON MIKE PIAZZA (5) OFF BRIAN STOKES IN THE 6TH, 1 ON TAM - NONE</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 5 0 1 1 2 0 2 0 12 16 0 TAMPA BAY 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 7 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN, KIKO CALERO (8TH), SANTIAGO CASILLA (9TH), RUDDY LUGO (9TH) AND KURT SUZUKI TAM - JASON HAMMEL, BRIAN STOKES (4TH), JON SWITZER (7TH), JUAN SALAS (9TH) AND DIONER NAVARRO WP - CHAD GAUDIN (10-9) LP - JASON HAMMEL (1-4) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: OAK - JACK CUST (22) OFF JASON HAMMEL IN THE 2ND, 1 ON MIKE PIAZZA (5) OFF BRIAN STOKES IN THE 6TH, 1 ON TAM - NONE TIME: 3:03 ATT: 9,444 PROBABLES: OAK - LENNY DINARDO (8-6, 3.13) TAM - JAMES SHIELDS (9-8, 4.18)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">OAKLAND (12) VS TAMPA BAY (2) - FINAL OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 6 1 2 2 0 0 3 .293 J DaVanon cf 4 3 1 0 2 1 2 .280 N Swisher 1b 6 3 3 1 0 2 3 .263 J Cust rf 2 1 1 3 2 1 2 .274 D Brown rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 M Piazza dh 5 1 4 5 0 0 0 .278 M Ellis 2b 5 1 2 0 0 0 3 .261 J Hannahan 3b 3 1 1 0 2 1 1 .250 K Suzuki c 3 1 1 1 1 0 3 .246 J Furmaniak ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .111 Totals 38 12 16 12 7 6 19 BATTING: 2B - M Piazza 2 (12, J Switzer, J Hammel); S Stewart (16, J Hammel); N Swisher (26, J Hammel). HR - J Cust (22, 2nd inning off J Hammel 1 on, 2 Out), M Piazza (5, 6th inning off B Stokes 1 on, 2 Out). SF - J Cust , K Suzuki. RBI - M Piazza 5 (33), S Stewart 2 (40), N Swisher (62), J Cust 3 (68), K Suzuki (19). 2-out RBI - M Piazza 4, J Cust 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 2, K Suzuki 1. Team LOB - 9. FIELDING: DP: 3 (M Ellis-J Furmaniak-N Swisher, J Furmaniak-N Swisher, K Calero-J Furmaniak-N Swisher). TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 2 0 2 1 1 0 0 .286 J Guzman 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .250 C Crawford lf 3 0 1 0 0 1 3 .310 J Gomes lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .257 B Upton cf 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 .304 C Pena 1b 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .263 D Young rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .284 B Harris 2b 4 0 0 0 0 3 0 .285 G Norton dh 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .213 D Navarro c 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .203 J Wilson ss 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .260 Totals 31 2 7 2 4 11 13 BATTING: 2B - G Norton (5, C Gaudin). 3B - J Wilson (3, K Calero). RBI - A Iwamura (20), J Gomes (35). 2-out RBI - A Iwamura. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Crawford 1, J Wilson 1, B Upton 1, D Young 1. GIDP - C Crawford, D Young, B Upton. Team LOB - 7. FIELDING: Outfield assists - D Young 2 (J DaVanon at Home, M Piazza at 2nd base), B Upton (J Hannahan at 2nd base). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 150 112 020 -- 12 TAMPA BAY - 001 000 010 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Gaudin (W, 10-9) 7 5 1 1 2 10 0 4.12 K Calero 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 5.85 S Casilla 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.58 R Lugo 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 7.01 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era J Hammel (L, 1-4) 3 5 6 6 5 2 1 7.43 B Stokes 3 7 4 4 1 1 1 7.49 J Switzer 2 4 2 2 1 1 0 12.00 J Salas 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.14 HBP - C Pena (by K Calero); J Furmaniak (by J Salas). Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 93-64; K Calero 30-18; R Lugo 19-11; S Casilla 2-0; J Hammel 78-44; B Stokes 54-32; J Switzer 38-22; J Salas 16-12. Ground balls-fly balls: C Gaudin 9-2; K Calero 3-0; R Lugo 2-0; S Casilla 0-0; J Hammel 1-5; B Stokes 2-4; J Switzer 2-3; J Salas 0-1. Batters faced: C Gaudin 26; K Calero 6; R Lugo 4; S Casilla 0; J Hammel 18; B Stokes 15; J Switzer 11; J Salas 4. UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Bill Welke. EJECTIONS: OAKLAND's Casilla by Hirschbeck (9th). T--3:03. Att--9,444. Weather: INDOORS</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND (12) AT TAMPA BAY (2) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND 1ST: S Stewart grounded out to shortstop. J DaVanon walked. N Swisher struck out swinging. J Cust walked, J DaVanon to second. M Piazza doubled to deep left, J DaVanon scored, J Cust to third. M Ellis flied out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, TAMPA BAY 0. OAKLAND 2ND: J Hannahan walked. K Suzuki walked, J Hannahan to second. J Furmaniak flied out to center, J Hannahan to third, K Suzuki to second. S Stewart doubled to deep right, J Hannahan and K Suzuki scored. J DaVanon walked. N Swisher doubled to deep right, S Stewart scored, J DaVanon thrown out at home. J Cust homered to left, N Swisher scored. M Piazza flied out to center. (5 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TAMPA BAY 0. TAMPA BAY 3RD: G Norton doubled to deep right. D Navarro grounded out to catcher. J Wilson popped out to first. A Iwamura singled to right, G Norton scored. C Crawford singled to center, A Iwamura to second. B Upton struck out swinging. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TAMPA BAY 1. OAKLAND 4TH: B Stokes relieved J Hammel. S Stewart singled to center. J DaVanon grounded into fielder's choice to third, S Stewart out at second. N Swisher fouled out to left. J Cust walked, J DaVanon to second. M Piazza singled to deep right, J DaVanon scored, J Cust to third, M Piazza out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 7, TAMPA BAY 1. OAKLAND 5TH: M Ellis singled to left. J Hannahan singled to center, M Ellis to third, J Hannahan out stretching at second. K Suzuki hit sacrifice fly to right, M Ellis scored. J Furmaniak singled to center. S Stewart flied out to right. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 8, TAMPA BAY 1. OAKLAND 6TH: J DaVanon flied out to left. N Swisher singled to right. J Cust struck out swinging. M Piazza homered to left, N Swisher scored. M Ellis grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 10, TAMPA BAY 1. OAKLAND 8TH: J DaVanon singled to center. N Swisher singled to center, J DaVanon to third. J Cust hit sacrifice fly to left, J DaVanon scored. M Piazza doubled to deep right center, N Swisher scored. M Ellis flied out to center. J Hannahan walked. K Suzuki fouled out to first. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 12, TAMPA BAY 1. TAMPA BAY 8TH: D Brown in right field. K Calero relieved C Gaudin. J Wilson tripled to deep center. J Guzman walked. J Gomes singled to left, J Wilson scored, J Guzman to second. B Upton grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, J Gomes out at second, J Guzman to third. C Pena hit by pitch. D Young grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 12, TAMPA BAY 2.</div>
Streaking Athletics thump slumping Devil Rays <h3>OAKLAND 12, TAMPA BAY 2</h3>ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- A meeting with Jason Hammelappeared to be a mismatch for the Oakland Athletics. The teamwith the second-best record in the major leagues this monthproved it to be just that. Mike Piazza collected four hits - including a home run - andfive RBI and Chad Gaudin recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts asthe Athletics pounded the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 12-2, onThursday. The victory was the 15th in 22 games this month for Oakland(65-64), which moved a game over .500 for the first time sinceit was 44-43 on July 7. Piazza keying Oakland's 16-hit attack with a single, two doublesand his fifth home run of the season. Nick Swisher went3-for-6 for the Athletics, who had all nine starters in thebatting order collect at least one hit. Gaudin (10-9), who was 1-6 in his previous eight starts, allowedonly one run and five hits in seven innings. Hammel (1-4) remained winless in his 16 major league starts, thelongest losing streak for a starter to begin a career sinceOakland's Mike Mohler went without a victory in all 20 careerstarts from 1993-97. A 24-year-old righthander, Hammel lasted only three innings,allowing six runs, five hits and five walks while striking outtwo. The Athletics broke open the game with a five-run second. Inthe inning, Shannon Stewart had a two-run double, Swisher an RBIdouble and Jack Cust a two-run homer - his 22nd of the season. Piazza opened the scoring in the first with a run-scoring doubleand did the rest of his damage later, delivering a run-scoringsingle in the fourth, belting a two-run shot in the sixth andplating Oakland's final run in the eighth with a two-base hit. Akinori Iwamura had an RBI single in the third and Jonny Gomesadded a run-scoring base hit in the eighth for the Devil Rays,who started the season 29-33 but are 19-46 in their last 65games.
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND (12) AT TAMPA BAY (2) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oakland Starting Lineups -- S Stewart LF, J DaVanon CF, N Swisher 1B, J Cust RF, M Piazza DH, M Ellis 2B, J Hannahan 3B, K Suzuki C, J Furmaniak SS, C Gaudin RHP. Tampa Bay Starting Lineups -- A Iwamura 3B, C Crawford LF, B Upton CF, C Pena 1B, D Young RF, B Harris 2B, G Norton DH, D Navarro C, J Wilson SS, J Hammel RHP. Umpires -- John Hirschbeck (HP), Wally Bell (1B), Laz Diaz (2B), Bill Welke (3B). Gametime Weather: INDOORS. OAKLAND 1ST: S Stewart grounded out to shortstop. J DaVanon walked. N Swisher struck out swinging. J Cust walked, J DaVanon to second. M Piazza doubled to deep left, J DaVanon scored, J Cust to third. M Ellis flied out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, TAMPA BAY 0. TAMPA BAY 1ST: A Iwamura singled to center. C Crawford grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, A Iwamura out at second. B Upton struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, TAMPA BAY 0. OAKLAND 2ND: J Hannahan walked. K Suzuki walked, J Hannahan to second. J Furmaniak flied out to center, J Hannahan to third, K Suzuki to second. S Stewart doubled to deep right, J Hannahan and K Suzuki scored. J DaVanon walked. N Swisher doubled to deep right, S Stewart scored, J DaVanon thrown out at home. J Cust homered to left, N Swisher scored. M Piazza flied out to center. (5 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TAMPA BAY 0. TAMPA BAY 2ND: C Pena struck out swinging. D Young struck out swinging. B Harris struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TAMPA BAY 0. OAKLAND 3RD: M Ellis reached on infield single to third. J Hannahan struck out swinging. K Suzuki flied out to center. J Furmaniak popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TAMPA BAY 0. TAMPA BAY 3RD: G Norton doubled to deep right. D Navarro grounded out to catcher. J Wilson popped out to first. A Iwamura singled to right, G Norton scored. C Crawford singled to center, A Iwamura to second. B Upton struck out swinging. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TAMPA BAY 1. OAKLAND 4TH: B Stokes relieved J Hammel. S Stewart singled to center. J DaVanon grounded into fielder's choice to third, S Stewart out at second. N Swisher fouled out to left. J Cust walked, J DaVanon to second. M Piazza singled to deep right, J DaVanon scored, J Cust to third, M Piazza out at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 7, TAMPA BAY 1. TAMPA BAY 4TH: C Pena grounded out to second. D Young struck out swinging. B Harris struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 7, TAMPA BAY 1. OAKLAND 5TH: M Ellis singled to left. J Hannahan singled to center, M Ellis to third, J Hannahan out stretching at second. K Suzuki hit sacrifice fly to right, M Ellis scored. J Furmaniak singled to center. S Stewart flied out to right. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 8, TAMPA BAY 1. TAMPA BAY 5TH: G Norton grounded out to first. D Navarro singled to right. J Wilson grounded into fielder's choice to third, D Navarro out at second. A Iwamura walked, J Wilson to second. C Crawford struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 8, TAMPA BAY 1. OAKLAND 6TH: J DaVanon flied out to left. N Swisher singled to right. J Cust struck out swinging. M Piazza homered to left, N Swisher scored. M Ellis grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 10, TAMPA BAY 1. TAMPA BAY 6TH: B Upton struck out swinging. C Pena walked. D Young grounded into double play, shortstop to first, C Pena out at second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 10, TAMPA BAY 1. OAKLAND 7TH: J Guzman at third base. J Gomes in left field. J Switzer relieved B Stokes. J Hannahan grounded out to shortstop. K Suzuki reached on infield single to second. J Furmaniak struck out swinging. S Stewart grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 10, TAMPA BAY 1. TAMPA BAY 7TH: B Harris fouled out to first. G Norton grounded out to shortstop. D Navarro struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 10, TAMPA BAY 1. OAKLAND 8TH: J DaVanon singled to center. N Swisher singled to center, J DaVanon to third. J Cust hit sacrifice fly to left, J DaVanon scored. M Piazza doubled to deep right center, N Swisher scored. M Ellis flied out to center. J Hannahan walked. K Suzuki fouled out to first. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 12, TAMPA BAY 1. TAMPA BAY 8TH: D Brown in right field. K Calero relieved C Gaudin. J Wilson tripled to deep center. J Guzman walked. J Gomes singled to left, J Wilson scored, J Guzman to second. B Upton grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, J Gomes out at second, J Guzman to third. C Pena hit by pitch. D Young grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 12, TAMPA BAY 2. OAKLAND 9TH: J Salas relieved J Switzer. J Furmaniak hit by pitch. S Stewart flied out to right. J DaVanon struck out swinging. N Swisher struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 12, TAMPA BAY 2. TAMPA BAY 9TH: S Casilla relieved K Calero. Oakland's S Casilla ejected by J Hirschbeck. R Lugo relieved S Casilla. B Harris struck out swinging. G Norton walked. D Navarro grounded out to second, G Norton to second. J Wilson grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 12, TAMPA BAY 2.</div>
Streaking Athletics thump slumping Devil Rays <h3>OAKLAND 12, TAMPA BAY 2</h3>ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- A meeting with Jason Hammelappeared to be a mismatch for the Oakland Athletics. The teamwith the second-best record in the major leagues this monthproved it to be just that. Mike Piazza collected four hits - including a home run - andfive RBI and Chad Gaudin recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts asthe Athletics pounded the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 12-2, onThursday. The victory was the 15th in 22 games this month for Oakland(65-64), which moved a game over .500 for the first time sinceit was 44-43 on July 7. Piazza keying Oakland's 16-hit attack with a single, two doublesand his fifth home run of the season. Nick Swisher went3-for-6 for the Athletics, who had all nine starters in thebatting order collect at least one hit. "It wasn't meant to be," said Piazza, who came a triple shy ofhitting for the cycle. "I was just glad to come in tonight andswing the bat well. It's like a wave, you try to catch it untilit crashes - and then you try to catch another one." Gaudin (10-9), who was 1-6 in his previous eight starts, allowedonly one run and five hits in seven innings. "I was keeping them off balance," Gaudin said. "The slider wasa good pitch tonight. It's a big asset to my game. It feelsgood to have a win and it's good for the team. I just try to goout there and do my job. It's a lot easier when it's 12-1." Hammel (1-4) remained winless in his 16 major league starts, thelongest losing streak for a starter to begin a career sinceOakland's Mike Mohler went without a victory in all 20 careerstarts from 1993-97. A 24-year-old righthander, Hammel lasted only three innings,allowing six runs, five hits and five walks while striking outtwo. "I've got to throw strikes," Hammel said. "Five walks was thestory tonight. I've got to do what comes naturally, just pitch.They're patient hitters and when you're not throwing strikes,they're going to hurt you." The Athletics broke open the game with a five-run second. Inthe inning, Shannon Stewart had a two-run double, Swisher an RBIdouble and Jack Cust a two-run homer - his 22nd of the season. Piazza opened the scoring in the first with a run-scoring doubleand did the rest of his damage later, delivering a run-scoringsingle in the fourth, belting a two-run shot in the sixth andplating Oakland's final run in the eighth with a two-base hit. "The offense came alive, Mike Piazza had a big day," Oaklandmanager Bob Geren said. "We've been swinging the bat well thelast couple of weeks. Jack Cust has meant a lot to the team.Chad was great tonight. He has been working on his game and hadgood control of his slider." Akinori Iwamura had an RBI single in the third and Jonny Gomesadded a run-scoring base hit in the eighth for the Devil Rays,who started the season 29-33 but are 19-46 in their last 65games. "The last seven days we have not hit well," Tampa Bay managerJoe Maddon said. "We've seen some good pitching. We need tojust grind it out. I think we're playing better on defense.We're pitching well and all of sudden we're not hitting well."
