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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Suzuki's run-scoring single lifts Athletics in 10th, 6-5



Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Oakland's Kurt Suzuki, a Baldwin High alum from Maui, is lifted by teammate Cliff Pennington after Suzuki hit an RBI single off Saint Louis School alum Brandon League in the bottom of the 10th to beat Seattle, 6-5.

BEN MARGOT | Associated Press

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Oakland's Kurt Suzuki (8) is mobbed by teammates after hitting the game winning RBI single off Seattle reliever Brandon League in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the A's a 6-5 victory.

BEN MARGOT | Associated Press

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OAKLAND, Calif. — Cliff Pennington's first thought was to bluff tagging up from first base. Instead the Oakland shortstop took advantage of a poor throw back to the infield by Seattle center fielder Franklin Gutierrez and a wild pitch by Brandon League to move into scoring position.

From there, Kurt Suzuki did what the A's have come to expect from their veteran catcher.

Suzuki's RBI single with two outs in the 10th inning drove in Pennington and lifted Oakland to a 6-5 victory over the Mariners last night.

"(Pennington) just really made a heads-up play and put us in a position to win," A's manager Bob Geren said. "It's big. We're preaching aggressiveness. If you stay aggressive good things happen."

Pennington drew a one-out walk from League (3-4), a Saint Louis School alum from Hawai'i, advanced to second on Daric Barton's fly out and took third on a wild pitch. After Ryan Sweeney was intentionally walked, Suzuki, a Baldwin High grad from Maui, hit a 1-1 pitch from League up the middle, just past diving shortstop Matt Tuiasosopo.

Pennington, Oakland's leadoff hitter, also had a double but had struck out in the seventh before coming up big in the 10th.

"It was one of those ones where I was going back to tag and I was going to go about halfway and see where we were at," Pennington said. "I just took off hard and when he made the throw I felt like I could beat it so I kept going."

Ryan Sweeney matched his career high with four hits, Rajai Davis had three hits, including two infield singles, and Jack Cust drove in his first two runs since being called up from the minors as the A's swept the two-game series from Seattle following a season-high five-game losing streak.

Seattle catcher Rob Johnson homered and threw out two baserunners in scoring position but the Mariners bullpen blew a late lead to keep ace Felix Hernandez winless over his last five starts.

Oakland had a season-high 16 hits overall, one day after matching its previous high of 15.

The teams used five pitchers each and the game featured three ties and three lead changes before Suzuki's eighth career walkoff hit.

"There were a couple of critical mistakes that came back to haunt you and maybe put the game in extra innings as opposed to winning it," Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu said. "Those are things guys have to be accountable for, especially when the play's in front of you."

Oakland reliever Craig Breslow (1-1) pitched one scoreless inning for the win.

RED SOX 7, YANKEES 6

Jeremy Hermida hit a tiebreaking, two-run double off Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning and visiting Boston took advantage of two late errors to rally from five runs down to beat New York, which played the game under protest.

RAYS 6, INDIANS 2

Evan Longoria hit a two-run triple to spark a four-run sixth and David Price (6-1) gave up a run and four hits over six innings to become the AL's first six-game winner as host Tampa Bay beat Cleveland.

BLUE JAYS 11, TWINS 2

Edwin Encarnacion came off the disabled list to hit one of four Toronto homers in support of Shaun Marcum (3-1), who allowed one run and five hits in seven innings in beating Minnesota.

WHITE SOX 6, TIGERS 2

Freddy Garcia (3-2) gave up two runs and five hits over six innings, and Juan Pierre had a two-run double and run-saving catch in the fourth inning to help visiting Chicago beat Detroit.

ORIOLES 4, ROYALS 3

Nick Markakis singled home Julio Lugo with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift Baltimore over Kansas City to end a three-game losing streak with a split of their two-game series.

RANGERS 8, ANGELS 7

Michael Young had three hits and three RBIs, including a bloop single to score Elvis Andrus and break a 7-all tie in the bottom of the sixth inning to help Texas sweep a two-game series from Los Angeles.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

GIANTS 7, PADRES 6

Matt Downs hit a two-run double in the top of the 12th inning as San Francisco beat San for the first time in eight tries this season. Brian Wilson struck out Chase Headley with the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning for his 10th save in 11 chances.

MARLINS 8, DIAMONDBACKS 0

Brian Barden drove in two runs while replacing benched star Hanley Ramirez and Josh Johnson (4-1) spaced two hits over seven innings to lead host Florida over Arizona.

PIRATES 2, PHILLIES 1

Zach Duke (3-4) gave up one run and six hits over six innings to lift visiting Pittsburgh over Philadelphia and Roy Halladay (6-2), who gave up two runs and nine hits in pitching a complete game.

REDS 5, BREWERS 4

Scott Rolen hit a tying, two-run homer in the ninth off closer Trevor Hoffman (1-3), and following a double by Chris Heisey and a walk, Joey Votto singled off the wall in right to lift Cincinnati over Milwaukee.

BRAVES 3, METS 2

Pinch-runner Brent Clevlen trotted home with the winning run when third baseman David Wright threw Melky Cabrera's ground ball into the right field corner in the bottom of the ninth inning as Atlanta beat New York.

CARDINALS 3, NATIONALS 2

Ryan Ludwick homered to snap an eighth-inning tie, Chris Carpenter (5-1) scattered nine hits over eight innings, and Ryan Franklin worked the ninth for his ninth save for host St. Louis.

CUBS 6, ROCKIES 2

Carlos Silva (5-0) allowed two runs and six hits over six innings, rookie Starlin Castro drove in two runs and host Chicago overcame Todd Helton's first home run of the season to beat Colorado.

DODGERS 7, ASTROS 3

Manny Ramirez, James Loney and Casey Blake each drove in two runs as host Los Angeles won its ninth straight. Before the game, the Dodgers placed Andre Ethier on the 15-day disabled list with a broken right pinky.

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