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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, May 22, 2010

Crisp shines in Athletics' debut



Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

San Francisco second baseman Freddy Sanchez throws to first after forcing out Oakland's Kurt Suzuki at second.

JEFF CHIU | Associated Press

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OAKLAND, Calif. — The first ball of the night sailed Coco Crisp's way and the wind was blowing. He scooted back in center field and made sure he didn't miss it.

Crisp certainly looked like his old dependable self in a long-awaited Oakland debut.

"I was definitely nervous out there," he said. "Especially that first ball hit to me."

Crisp drove in two runs in his first game since June 12 with Kansas City and the Athletics beat their former ace, Barry Zito, and the San Francisco Giants, 6-1, last night in the first Bay Bridge Series this season.

Zito (6-2) was off to a career-best start for the Giants heading into his second outing back at the Coliseum since the 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner was lured across the bay by a $126 million, seven-year deal before the 2007 season.

Ryan Sweeney added an RBI single for the A's to help Trevor Cahill (2-2) win for the first time in three starts. Oakland kept Zito from a win against the only team in baseball he's yet to beat in his 11-year career. He is 0-4 with an 8.85 ERA lifetime against the A's.

San Francisco lost its third straight game a day after an 8-7 defeat at last-place Arizona in which ace Tim Lincecum struggled and manager Bruce Bochy was ejected late.

The Giants couldn't capitalize against Cahill despite having several chances with runners in scoring position. San Francisco lost to the A's for only the second time in the last nine meetings after going 5-1 in the rivalry in 2009.

Zito received a mixed welcome of boos and cheers from the crowd of 33,369 when he was introduced before the first pitch.

After the left-hander pitched 1-2-3 innings in the first and second, Oakland produced three straight hits to start the third. Former Giants outfielder Rajai Davis got the A's on the board with a two-run double and Crisp followed with a sacrifice fly.

Crisp, who began the season on the disabled list with a broken left pinkie that he injured April 2 in an exhibition game against the Giants, doubled in a run in the seventh to chase Zito.

Crisp missed the final 3 1/2 months last season for the Royals after needing surgeries on both his shoulders.

PHILLIES 5, RED SOX 1

Cole Hamels (5-2) gave up a run and three hits, while striking out eight in seven innings, and Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth homered to lead host Philadelphia past Boston. The victory may have been costly as Jimmy Rollins left the game in the sixth inning with a mild right calf strain.

ORIOLES 5, NATIONALS 3

David Hernandez (1-5) allowed one hit — by pitcher Miguel Batista — and one run with five walks in 5 1/3 innings to end a run of 16 straight starts without a victory and Adam Jones homered to lead visiting Baltimore over Washington.

WHITE SOX 8, MARLINS 0

Mark Buehrle (3-5) scattered eight hits over eight innings to win for the first time in six decisions, and Alexei Ramirez hit a three-run homer, a two-run double and matched a career-high with five RBIs as host Chicago defeated Florida.

REDS 7, INDIANS 4

Jonny Gomes and Brandon Phillips hit homers, and Laynce Nix had three hits, including a run-scoring double in a two-run sixth inning for a 6-4 lead as visiting Cincinnati beat Cleveland, which has lost five straight to fall 10 games below .500.

YANKEES 2, METS 1

Javier Vazquez (3-4) pitched one-hit ball for six innings, but left after he was hit on the finger laying down a sacrifice bunt in the two-run seventh as the visiting Yankees beat the Mets to snap a three-game losing streak.

RANGERS 2, CUBS 1

Colby Lewis (4-2) gave up a run and five hits over six innings, three relievers completed the eight-hitter and Vladimir Guerrero and Nelson Cruz hit RBI doubles in a two-run bottom of the fourth inning as Texas beat Chicago.

ASTROS 2, RAYS 1

Brett Myers (3-3) gave up a run and six hits in seven innings and Hunter Pence broke a 1-1 tie with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to help Houston, the NL's worst team, snap a six-game winning streak by Tampa Bay, the majors' best team.

ROYALS 9, ROCKIES 2

Jose Guillen hit two home runs and drove in three runs, and Brian Bannister (3-3) gave up two runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings as host Kansas City beat Colorado to improve to 6-2 since Ned Yost replaced Trey Hillman as manager.

TWINS 15, BREWERS 3

Jason Kubel had a two-run single to highlight a seven-run bottom of the first inning off Dave Bush (1-5), who gave up seven hits and walked two while getting just one out, and Nick Blackburn (5-1) worked 7 1/3 innings as Minnesota pounded Milwaukee.

CARDINALS 9, ANGELS 5

Pitcher Brad Penny hit a grand slam in the third inning, apparently injuring his back on the swing, then lasted only a few warmup pitches in the top of the fourth inning before leaving in host St. Louis' victory over Los Angeles.

DIAMONDBACKS 8, BLUE JAYS 6

Dan Haren (5-3) doubled twice, drove in three runs and allowed four runs on nine hits over eight innings, offsetting Edwin Encarnacion's three home runs as host Arizona beat Toronto for its first three-game winning streak of the season.

DODGERS 4, TIGERS 1

Chad Billingsley (5-2) allowed a run and four hits over seven innings, and Manny Ramirez returned after missing two games with a sore toe and went 1 for 4 with an RBI to lead host Los Angeles over Detroit.

MARINERS 15, PADRES 8

Mike Sweeney homered twice and drove in six runs, including a three-run shot off Wade LeBlanc (2-2) to cap a seven-run second inning, as host Seattle routed San Diego. Josh Bard homered and hit a two-run double for the Mariners.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

BRAVES 7, PIRATES 0

Jason Heyward homered and drove in three runs to support Tim Hudson (5-1), who allowed only three singles, two by Bobby Crosby, over eight innings while winning his fourth consecutive decision this month and helping Atlanta win its fourth straight.

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