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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, September 26, 2009

Kurt Suzuki: 3 hits, including 2-run homer, in Athletics' victory


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Oakland Athletics' Kurt Suzuki, left, is congratulated by Ryan Sweeney(15} after hitting a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning.

LORI SHEPLER | Associated Press

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ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jack Cust homered and doubled in the go-ahead run during a six-run eighth inning, Kurt Suzuki and Mark Ellis also went deep, and the Oakland Athletics rallied from a seven-run deficit to beat the Los Angeles Angels 15-10 tonight.

The Angels, whose magic number to clinch their third straight AL West title remained at four, lost their season-high fourth straight. They were the only team in the majors that hadn't lost more than three in a row this season.

The Angels lead Texas by five games with eight to play, including a four-game set against the Rangers that begins Monday night at Angel Stadium.

Rookie Kevin Jepsen (6-4) was charged with four runs and three hits in the Oakland eighth, including a tying RBI single by Suzuki after the right-hander struck out Rajai Davis and Ryan Sweeney with runners at the corners. Cust's double gave the A's an 11-10 lead, and Daric Barton greeted Matt Palmer with an RBI single before Ellis capped the rally with a three-run homer.

Craig Breslow (8-7) pitched 1 1-3 innings for the victory after giving up an RBI single by pinch-hitter Gary Matthews Jr. that put the Angels ahead 10-9 in the seventh.

Cust was 3 for 5 with four RBIs and Barton was 4 for 5 with two RBIs. Suzuki had three hits and a season-high four RBIs during Oakland's 19-hit outburst, raising his team-high RBI total to 85.

Darren Oliver relieved John Lackey after five innings with a 9-6 lead and gave up two runs in the sixth. Adam Kennedy hit an RBI double and scored on a two-out wild pitch to Sweeney.

Lackey allowed six runs and 10 hits while striking out two. The right-hander, who hadn't allowed a home run in his previous five starts, gave up a two-run shot by Suzuki in the first and a three-run shot by Cust in the fifth.

Suzuki gave the A's 2-0 lead in the first with his 15th homer after a two-out walk to Sweeney. Juan Rivera responded in the bottom hal f with a three-run shot over both bullpens, giving him new career highs in homers (24) and RBIs (86).

All three runs off Dana Eveland in the Angels' first were unearned after shortstop Cliff Pennington botched a potential double-play grounder by Abreu when he took a throw from second baseman Ellis off the bag and wasn't able to get the out at first, either.

The Angels increased their margin to 9-2 with six runs in the fourth. Jeff Mathis hit an RBI single, and Kendrick scored when Kennedy hit him in the back with his throw to the plate after fielding Maicer Izturis' grounder. Chone Figgins chased Eveland with a two-run single and Abreu hit a two-run homer on Brad Kilby's first pitch, giving him 100 RBIs for the season.

Eveland threw 79 pitches over 3 1-3 innings, allowing eight runs, five hits and four walks.