Mets 2 - 6 Athletics
Final
  for this game

Kazmir pitches A's past Mets

Aug 20, 2014 - 5:37 AM Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Scott Kazmir struck out six over six innings strong innings and the Oakland Athletics snapped a five-game losing skid with a 6-2 win over the New York Mets.

Kazmir (14-5) set a new career-high in wins and helped the A's win the first game of this brief two-game interleague set. The southpaw allowed a run, four hits and three walks.

Coco Crisp cleared the bases with a three-run triple in the fourth inning and Josh Reddick added a two-run homer for Oakland, which returned home following a road trip in which the club went just 1-6. The A's sit a half-game back of the Angels, who were winners in Boston on Tuesday night, for the best record in the American League West.

"Certainly Coco's hit was huge, it felt like about 10 runs at the time," said A's manager Bob Melvin. "The offense was a little more like what we're used to seeing."

Dillon Gee's (4-6) pitching woes continued, surrendering four runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings to absorb the loss. Gee dropped to 0-5 over his last seven starts.

"Dillon is up in the zone and that's just not where he pitches," said Mets manager Terry Collins. "He fell behind counts, I don't know if his rhythm is bad ... he's a better pitcher than what he is right now."

Stephen Vogt opened Oakland's big fourth inning with a single to left with one out. Derek Norris followed with a double and Reddick drew a walk to load the bases for Alberto Callaspo, who delivered a sacrifice fly to right. Eric Sogard then walked to reload the bags and Crisp ripped a triple to right to give the A's a 4-1 lead.

Norris walked against Gonzalez Germen in the eighth to set up Reddick's ninth home run of the season.

The Mets opened the scoring in the top of the fourth on Travis d'Arnaud's opposite field homer to right. After Ryan Cook took over for Kazmir to start the seventh, Wilmer Flores doubled and Anthony Recker plated him with a two- bagger to left.

Game Notes

Kazmir improved to 8-2 at home this season ... Gee hasn't won since July 9 ... The Mets ended their season-worst streak of five straight games with five hits or fewer. They had seven ... Norris and Reddick each scored twice.






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