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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, August 16, 2008

Suzuki helps A's walk off with win

 •  Mets closer close to being activated

Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. — Kurt Suzuki gave the slumping Oakland Athletics something to celebrate.

Suzuki, a Baldwin High alum from Maui, hit a game-winning, pinch-hit two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning and the A's rallied to beat the Chicago White Sox, 6-4, last night for just their fifth win since the All-Star break.

"Any time you can get a win against a caliber club like the White Sox are, it's definitely huge," Suzuki said. "I knew at the worst it was going to be a sacrifice fly. Our team battled to the end."

Jack Cust added a pair of home runs for the A's.

Pinch-hitter Emil Brown doubled off Horacio Ramirez (1-2) leading off the ninth and pinch-runner Cliff Pennington was sacrificed to third. Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen replaced Ramirez with reliever D.J. Carrasco, who worked a full count on Suzuki before Oakland's catcher hit a fastball over the left-field wall for his sixth home run of the season.

ROYALS 4, YANKEES 3

Mariano Rivera's first wild pitch of the season allowed the tiebreaking run to score in the ninth inning, and Jason Giambi flied out with the bases loaded against Joakim Soria to end visiting Kansas City's win over New York. Mark Teahen hit a two-run double for Kansas City.

RAYS 7, RANGERS 0

Matt Garza had to settle for his second career shutout after making a bid for the first no-hitter in Tampa Bay history. Garza (10-7) didn't allow a hit against visiting Texas until a debatable call with two outs in the sixth, then finished with a two-hitter.

TWINS 9, MARINERS 3

Jason Kubel homered and had three RBIs in the seven-run fourth inning and host Minnesota beat Seattle. Francisco Liriano (3-3) allowed no earned runs in seven solid innings for Minnesota.

ORIOLES 11, TIGERS 2

Melvin Mora finished a double shy of the cycle, driving in four runs to lift visiting Baltimore over Detroit. Mora finished 3 for 4 and has 15 RBIs in his last seven games.

INDIANS 3, ANGELS 2

Cliff Lee became the AL's first 17-game winner by pitching his third complete game of the season, leading host Cleveland over Los Angeles. Lee (17-2) struck out six.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

CARDINALS 5, REDS 3

Rick Ankiel hit his first home run in three weeks, a two-run shot off Bronson Arroyo (10-10) that helped visiting St. Louis beat Cincinnati. Ankiel hit a two-run homer in the first. The outfielder returned to the lineup last Monday after recovering from an abdominal injury.

PHILLIES 1, PADRES 0

Jamie Moyer outpitched fellow 40-something Greg Maddux for seven innings, and Pat Burrell homered for visiting Philadelphia. Moyer (11-7) gave up three hits, struck out two and walked two. Maddux (6-9) allowed a run on five hits.

DODGERS 5, BREWERS 3

Chad Billingsley settled down after a rocky start, Jeff Kent singled home the go-ahead run in the fifth and host Los Angeles won its fifth straight. Billingsley (12-9) went seven, allowing three runs in the first two innings.

DIAMONDBACKS 12, ASTROS 2

Brandon Webb struck out six in eight sharp innings and Chris Snyder drove in four runs for visiting Arizona. Webb (18-4) allowed four hits and retired 16 on groundouts.

GIANTS 5, BRAVES 1

Randy Winn had his 100th career homer among his four hits and drove in two runs for visiting San Francisco. Matt Cain (8-9) allowed only one run in seven innings with five strikeouts.

ROCKIES 4, NATIONALS 3

Troy Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe homered as visiting Colorado beat Washington. Colorado's Jorge De La Rosa (6-6) went six innings, allowing three runs and six hits.

CUBS 6, MARLINS 5

Daryle Ward hit a pinch-hit three-run homer in the ninth inning as Chicago beat Florida. Ward drove an 0-1 pitch from Florida closer Kevin Gregg (6-5) over the wall in right field.

METS 2, PIRATES 1

Mike Pelfrey pitched seven shutout innings to lead visiting New York over Pittsburgh. Pelfrey (11-8) allowed seven hits and didn't walk a batter.

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