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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, April 23, 2010

Suzuki homers, 'triples' to lift A's



Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Oakland's Kurt Suzuki connected for a three-run homer, but also grounded into a triple play against New York.

MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ | Associated Press

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OAKLAND, Calif. — Kurt Suzuki hit a three-run homer, Dallas Braden outdueled CC Sabathia and the Oakland Athletics overcame the Yankees' first triple play since 1968 to beat New York, 4-2, yesterday.

The A's managed only four hits but benefited from a career high-tying six walks by Sabathia (2-1) while ending their season-high, three-game losing streak.

Braden (3-0) scattered six hits over six innings. He also engaged in a heated exchange with Yankees star Alex Rodriguez after accusing him of breaching one of baseball's unwritten rules.

The problems began in the top of the sixth inning after a single by Rodriguez. Robinson Cano fouled off a pitch and Rodriguez, who was running on the pitch and past second base, cut across the pitcher's mound to return to first.

After Cano grounded into an inning-ending double play, Braden and Rodriguez got into it.

"The long and short of it is it's pretty much baseball etiquette. He should probably take a note from his captain over there," Braden said, referring to Yankees leader Derek Jeter, "because you don't run across the pitcher's mound in between an inning or during the game. I was just dumbfounded that he would let that slip his mind."

Rodriguez said: "He just told me to get off his mound. I was a little surprised. I've never quite heard that, especially from a guy that has a handful of wins in his career. I've never even heard of that in my career and I still don't know. I thought it was pretty funny, actually."

Moments after the blowup, Rodriguez helped turn a triple play.

The A's quickly put runners on first and second in the bottom of the sixth and Suzuki, a Baldwin High alum from Maui, sent a sharp grounder to Rodriguez at third base.

Rodriguez stepped on the bag and threw to Cano at second. Cano's relay to first baseman Nick Johnson barely beat Suzuki.

"The ball was hit to my right, I took a couple of steps, stepped on the bag and then threw a Hail Mary at Robby," Rodriguez said. "And Robby did a great job of turning it."

The Yankees had gone 6,632 consecutive regular-season games without a triple play. Their last one came on June 3, 1968.

INDIANS 8, TWINS 1

Mitch Talbot (2-1) gave up a run and two hits over six innings, Andy Marte homered and drove in three runs, and Russell Branyan doubled and drove in two runs to help visiting Cleveland avoid a three-game sweep by Minnesota.

RAYS 10, WHITE SOX 2

Carlos Pena drove in four runs and visiting Tampa Bay took advantage of seven walks by Jake Peavy to beat Chicago and cap the winningest road trip in team history with a 9-1 record.

RANGERS 3, RED SOX 0

C.J. Wilson (1-1) pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and visiting Texas scored three runs on three hits and two Boston errors in the seventh to snap a six-game losing streak and avoid a three-game sweep.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

BREWERS 20, PIRATES 0

Prince Fielder hit his first home run of the season and Jim Edmonds, Ryan Braun and George Kottaras also connected as visiting Milwaukee piled up 25 hits in handing Pittsburgh the most-lopsided loss in team history.

ROCKIES 2, NATIONALS 0

Ubaldo Jimenez (4-0) followed up his no-hitter by spacing five hits over 7 1/3 innings for host Colorado, and Miguel Olivo and Ian Stewart hit solo homers for the first runs allowed this season by Washington's Livan Hernandez (2-1).

PHILLIES 8, BRAVES 3

Jamie Moyer (2-1) gave up four hits and no earned runs in six innings and Maui's Shane Victorino drove in two runs as Philadelphia beat Atlanta to win the season's first series between the NL East rivals.

METS 5, CUBS 2

Johan Santana (2-1) allowed a run and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, and Jeff Francoeur broke an 0-for-24 slump with an RBI single in a four-run sixth to lift host New York over Chicago for its first series win of the season.

REDS 8, DODGERS 5

Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer, Scott Rolen hit a go-ahead, two-run double in a four-run seventh, and rookie Mike Leake (1-0) earned his first major league victory as host Cincinnati beat Los Angeles.

MARLINS 5, ASTROS 1

Anibal Sanchez (1-1) scattered nine hits in 6 2/3 innings, Cody Ross drove in two runs and Jorge Cantu singled to extend his hitting streak to 20 games as visiting Florida ended Houston's four-game winning streak.

TIGERS 5, ANGELS 4

Justin Verlander (1-1) allowed four runs and six hits through five innings for his first win in four starts since signing a long-term contract, and Carlos Guillen drove in two runs to help visiting Detroit salvage a split of the four-game series.

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