Final
Harden impresses in season debut
Apr 5, 2007 - 7:07 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics averted a season-opening sweep behind the strength of Rich Harden's right arm.Harden pitched seven shutout innings and Mark Ellis drove in five runs to lead the Athletics to a 9-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
Harden, from nearby Victoria, British Columbia, allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out seven in seven innings to improve his career mark against the Mariners to 5-1 with a 1.28 ERA.
The 25-year-old righthander was limited to just nine starts in 2006 due to arm injuries, but showed no ill effects against the Mariners.
"I just wanted to put last year behind me and move on," said Harden, who posted a 1.53 ERA in five appearances this spring. "I just want to focus on what I have to do this season and not even worry about last season."
It was the first victory for new A's manager Bob Geren.
"I'm very happy with the win, obviously," Geren said. "Rich Harden had a tremendous performance. ... He looked like the same guy we saw all spring, which is tremendous."
Ellis hit a bases-clearing double in a five-run second inning and added a two-run double in the fifth to bring his RBI total to seven on the young season.
"I was just trying to take advantage of the situations," Ellis said. "Guys in front of me were getting on base so I came up in some good situations. Those are situations hitters like to be in."
Ellis gave a lot of the credit to Harden for helping the A's avoid the sweep.
"He was unbelievable," Ellis said. "Everybody knows how good he is. His stuff was incredible. To make good hitters look as bad as he does sometimes, it's just a credit to his stuff."
Seattle starter Miguel Batista (0-1) suffered most of the damage, allowing eight runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. The veteran righthander, who spent last season in the National League with the Arizona Diamondbacks, walked two and struck out five but also threw a wild pitch and committed two balks in his rocky return to the American League.
"There's no excuse," Batista said. "I just didn't get my job done. There is the reason that we lost. I wish I could give you an excuse but I don't have one."
Oakland managed just four runs in the first two games as starters Felix Hernandez and Jarrod Washburn ensured the Mariners of their first winning series against their AL West rivals since 2005.
Outfielder Milton Bradley had two hits and two RBI and is 5-for-12 in three games and Shannon Stewart added two hits and two runs scored for the A's.
"Harden was awfully, awfully good," Mariners manager Mike Hargrove said. "He throws strikes and 94 or 95 miles an hour. He's got a nasty split finger. When you get a guy like that who is as on his game as he was it makes it a very difficult proposition for the opponent that night."
- AL
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 0 5 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 9 13 1
SEATTLE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: OAK - RICH HARDEN, JAY MARSHALL (8TH), HUSTON STREET (9TH) AND JASON
KENDALL
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA, SEAN WHITE (5TH), GEORGE SHERRILL
(9TH) AND KENJI JOHJIMA, JAMIE
Apr 5 12:51 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY NICK SWISHER SCORED SHANNON STEWART AND MIKE
PIAZZA.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, 0 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 0
SEATTLE 0 END TOP, 6TH
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:43 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MARK ELLIS SCORED NICK SWISHER, BOBBY CROSBY AND
TRAVIS BUCK AND MARK ELLIS.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, 0 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
SEATTLE 0 END TOP, 5TH
Apr 5 12:42 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MARK ELLIS SCORED NICK SWISHER, BOBBY CROSBY AND
TRAVIS BUCK AND MARK ELLIS.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, 0 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
SEATTLE 0 END TOP, 5TH
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:42 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MARK ELLIS SCORED ERIC CHAVEZ, BOBBY CROSBY AND
TRAVIS BUCK AND MARK ELLIS AND JASON KENDALL.
SITUATION: 9 RUNS IN, 0 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 3
SEATTLE 0 END TOP, 2ND
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:38 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE
STARTING BATS: OAK - RICH HARDEN AND JASON KENDALL
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA AND KENJI JOHJIMA
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J KENDALL (.118, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
S STEWART (.313, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
M BRADLEY (.353, 1 HR, 3 RBI)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:37 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: B Broussard at first base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 6
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 7TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M Piazza (.188, 3-FOR-9)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:36 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S White relieved G Sherrill.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 5
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M Piazza (.188, 3-FOR-9)
Apr 5 12:36 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S White relieved G Sherrill.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 5
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M Piazza (.188, 3-FOR-9)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:36 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY SHANNON STEWART SCORED NICK SWISHER, BOBBY CROSBY
AND TRAVIS BUCK AND MARK ELLIS.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, 1 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 6
SEATTLE 0 END TOP, 5TH
Apr 5 12:33 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY SHANNON STEWART SCORED NICK SWISHER, BOBBY CROSBY
AND TRAVIS BUCK AND MARK ELLIS.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, 1 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 6
SEATTLE 0 END TOP, 5TH
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:33 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY SHANNON STEWART SCORED ERIC CHAVEZ, BOBBY CROSBY
AND TRAVIS BUCK AND MARK ELLIS AND JASON KENDALL.
SITUATION: 8 RUNS IN, 2 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 7
SEATTLE 0 END TOP, 2ND
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:30 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
BALK BY MIGUEL BATISTA ALLOWED MIKE PIAZZA AND NICK SWISHER
TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 6 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 8
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: E CHAVEZ (.154, 1-FOR-5, BB)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:29 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE
CONFIRMED STARTERS: OAK - RICH HARDEN
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:29 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: B Broussard at first base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 9
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 7TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S Stewart (.250, 2-FOR-4)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:29 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S White relieved G Sherrill.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M ELLIS ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 8
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S Stewart (.250, 2-FOR-4)
Apr 5 12:28 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S White relieved G Sherrill.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M ELLIS ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 8
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S Stewart (.250, 2-FOR-4)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:28 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Burke catching.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 9
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 9TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: N Swisher (.250, 1-FOR-3, RBI)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:27 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - PITCHING CHANGE
SEA: GEORGE SHERRILL (NO RECORD) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 0, SEATTLE 0
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: N SWISHER (.273, 2-FOR-6, 2 RBI)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:25 AM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 1
SEATTLE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 (TOP 9)
CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - RICH HARDEN
SEA - SEAN WHITE
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: N SWISHER (.273, 2-FOR-6, 2 BB, 2 RBI)
M SCUTARO (.000, 0-FOR-2)
T BUCK (.111, 0-FOR-6, 2 BB)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:25 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: W Bloomquist in center field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 0
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 8TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S Stewart (.214, 2-FOR-6)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:24 AM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 1
SEATTLE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 (TOP 8)
CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - RICH HARDEN
SEA - SEAN WHITE
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.214, 2-FOR-6, 2 HBP)
M BRADLEY (.467, 4-FOR-8, 4 RBI)
M PIAZZA (.133, 2-FOR-8)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:23 AM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 1
SEATTLE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 (BOT 7)
CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - RICH HARDEN
SEA - SEAN WHITE
DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: R IBANEZ (.273, 2-FOR-4)
B BROUSSARD (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
J GUILLEN (.200, 0-FOR-4)
Apr 5 12:22 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY NICK SWISHER SCORED SHANNON STEWART.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, 2 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 0
SEATTLE 0 END TOP, 6TH
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:21 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MARK ELLIS SCORED NICK SWISHER AND BOBBY CROSBY.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, 1 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
SEATTLE 0 END TOP, 5TH
Apr 5 12:21 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MARK ELLIS SCORED NICK SWISHER AND BOBBY CROSBY.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, 1 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
SEATTLE 0 END TOP, 5TH
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:21 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MILTON BRADLEY SCORED SHANNON STEWART.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, 1 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 3
SEATTLE 0 END TOP, 4TH
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:20 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MARK ELLIS SCORED ERIC CHAVEZ, BOBBY CROSBY AND
TRAVIS BUCK.
SITUATION: 5 RUNS IN, 2 LEFT ON, 3 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 4
SEATTLE 0 END TOP, 2ND
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:19 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE
STARTING BATS: OAK - RICH HARDEN AND JASON KENDALL
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA AND KENJI JOHJIMA
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J KENDALL (.143, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
S STEWART (.182, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
M BRADLEY (.455, 1 HR, 3 RBI)
Apr 5 12:18 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE
STARTING BATS: OAK - RICH HARDEN AND JASON KENDALL
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA AND KENJI JOHJIMA
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J KENDALL (.143, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
S STEWART (.182, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
M BRADLEY (.455, 1 HR, 3 RBI)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:18 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: B Broussard at first base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 9
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 7TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S Stewart (.182, 1-FOR-3)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:18 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S White relieved M Batista.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M ELLIS ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 8
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S Stewart (.182, 1-FOR-3)
Apr 5 12:18 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S White relieved M Batista.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M ELLIS ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 8
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S Stewart (.182, 1-FOR-3)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 5 12:18 AM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 0 5 0 1 2 1 0 9 11 1
SEATTLE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 (BOT 7)
CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - RICH HARDEN
SEA - SEAN WHITE
DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: R IBANEZ (.222, 1-FOR-2)
B BROUSSARD (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
J GUILLEN (.250, 0-FOR-2)
Apr 5 12:01 AM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY NICK SWISHER SCORED SHANNON STEWART.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, N SWISHER ON FIRST, E CHAVEZ ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 9
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 6TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: B CROSBY (.333, 2-FOR-2, HBP)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 4 11:46 PM - AL
AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S White relieved M Batista.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M ELLIS ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 8
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J Kendall (.167, 1-FOR-3)
Apr 4 11:30 PM - AL
AT SEATTLE - PITCHING CHANGE
SEA: SEAN WHITE (NO RECORD) IN THE 5TH
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M ELLIS ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 8, SEATTLE 0
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J KENDALL (.167, 1-FOR-3)
Apr 4 11:30 PM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MARK ELLIS SCORED NICK SWISHER AND BOBBY CROSBY.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M ELLIS ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 8
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J KENDALL (.167, 1-FOR-3)
Apr 4 11:28 PM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MARK ELLIS SCORED NICK SWISHER AND BOBBY CROSBY.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M ELLIS ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 8
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J KENDALL (.167, 1-FOR-3)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 4 11:28 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 0 5 0 1 6 8 0
SEATTLE 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 (TOP 5)
CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - RICH HARDEN
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: E CHAVEZ (.200, 1-FOR-2)
N SWISHER (.143, 0-FOR-2)
B CROSBY (.250, 1-FOR-1, HBP)
Apr 4 11:19 PM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MILTON BRADLEY SCORED SHANNON STEWART.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M BRADLEY ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 6
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 4TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M PIAZZA (.111, 1-FOR-2)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 4 11:06 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 0 5 5 5 0
SEATTLE 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2)
CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - RICH HARDEN
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA
DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: R IBANEZ (.143, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
R SEXSON (.286, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
J GUILLEN (.333, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
Apr 4 10:41 PM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MILTON BRADLEY SCORED MARK ELLIS.
SITUATION: 5 RUNS IN, M BRADLEY ON FIRST, J KENDALL ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 5
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M PIAZZA (.125, 1-FOR-1)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 4 10:40 PM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MARK ELLIS SCORED ERIC CHAVEZ, BOBBY CROSBY AND
TRAVIS BUCK.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, M ELLIS ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 4
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J KENDALL (.100, 0-FOR-1)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 4 10:34 PM - AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
BALK BY MIGUEL BATISTA ALLOWED MIKE PIAZZA TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, E CHAVEZ ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
SEATTLE 0 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: N SWISHER (.200, 0-FOR-0)
Athletics vs. MarinersApr 4 10:30 PM
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