• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Buck, Chavez power Athletics past Devils Rays

Apr 29, 2007 - 12:29 AM OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Hitting has been a problem for the Oakland Athletics this season but it was not an issue Saturday.

Rookie Travis Buck and Eric Chavez each hit a three-run home run as the Athletics throttled the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 12-5, ending a three-game losing streak in convincing fashion.

Oakland has not lost more than three consecutive games since May 2006, when they dropped seven in a row.

Bobby Crosby and Dan Johnson drove in two runs apiece for Oakland, which started the day last in the majors with a .225 batting average and a .220 average with runners in scoring position.

"It's a little sigh of relief," Crosby said. "As a whole we haven't panicked. It's not time to panic, it's just a little funk that we've been going through. We have enough good hitters on this team and even with the guys that we have out, we knew we were going come around."

Dan Haren (3-2) was the beneficiary of the run support, allowing three runs - two earned - seven hits in 7 1/3 innings. The 6-5 righthander struck out seven and did not allow a walk, lowering his ERA to 1.60. Justin Duchscherer and Alan Embree pitched in relief to close out the victory.

"Any time you get first-inning runs, it's really nice," Haren said. "When you get staked to a 6-0 lead it's all about throwing strikes at that point. It was all about making quality pitches and I felt if I could do that, with that lead, we would win the game."

"He's a good pitcher regardless," Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon said of Haren. "When you spot him a lead like we did today, he's going to have a nice game."

Tampa Bay starter Casey Fossum (2-2) was hit hard. Oakland jumped on the lefthander for eight runs in the first two innings, including six in the opening frame.

After allowing a leadoff single to Shannon Stewart, Fossum appeared to settle down as he struck out Bobby Kielty and Chavez. However, he walked Mike Piazza and Crosby followed with a single to score Stewart. Piazza advanced to third and Crosby moved to second on Carl Crawford's throwing error.

Johnson gave Oakland a 3-0 lead with a single up the middle to score Piazza and Crosby. Mark Ellis singled to set the table for Buck, who hit the first pitch from Fossum over the wall in left field for his second home run of the season for a 6-0 lead.

"I dug myself into a hole early," Fossum said. "It's frustrating when you get your team down six runs in the first inning. It makes it hard to come back."

The Athletics tacked on two more runs in the second. After Kielty and Chavez each singled with one out, Piazza hit an RBI single to left. Oakland went ahead, 8-1, when Crosby reached first on shortstop Ben Zobrist's throwing error and Chavez scored on the play.

"It was nice to see the offense get it going today," Athletics manager Bob Geren said. "It seemed like in a game like this it can build some confidence in some guys. It's always nice to get some runs for your pitcher like that and Dan Haren did a great job when we jumped out early."

Ellis hit his first home run of the season in the fifth inning off Fossum, who was replaced after the fifth inning. The lefthander allowed nine runs, nine hits and three walks while striking out five.

"It's one of those weird things about baseball," Ellis said. "Hitting is very contagious, as we saw today. When somebody gets up there and starts hitting it gives the other guys confidence against their pitching. That's what happened today."

Oakland reached double digits in the seventh inning off reliever Ruddy Lugo.

The righthander allowed two-out walks to Stewart and rookie Danny Putnam before Chavez hit a 2-2 pitch over the right field wall for his second home run of the season.

"It's a good sign because I haven't been lifting the ball lately," Chavez said. "I've been seeing the ball great, but haven't been able to get any lift. That's what was encouraging about my swing today."

B.J. Upton had three hits, including his fourth home run, an RBI and scored three runs for the Devil Rays, who fell to 26-60 vs. Oakland all-time and 1-12-1 in series played at McAfee Coliseum.

Tampa Bay's Jonny Gomes added two hits and two RBI and Elijah Dukes had three hits with an RBI.

A's first baseman Nick Swisher, who suffered a strained hamstring on Wednesday, missed his second straight game. Oakland already is without outfielders Mark Kotsay (back) and Milton Bradley (hamstring).