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Gaudin, bullpen hold off Twins

Jun 4, 2007 - 12:39 AM OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics picked up where they left off against Johan Santana.

Nick Swisher, Eric Chavez and Bobby Crosby each contributed an RBI, and Chad Gaudin and the bullpen held the Minnesota Twins in check en route to a 4-2 victory on Sunday.

In Game One of the 2006 American League Division Series, Santana suffered the loss against Oakland before going on to eventually sweep the series. The Athletics managed just enough offense and got some help from the Twins defense, to hand the two-time Cy Young award winner his fifth loss this season.

"We couldn't score runs, or get people out," Santana said. "That's just the way it is. Somebody has to win, and they did. They played better than us, and took advantage of certain situations. They put some runs on the board, and pitched well the whole game."

"Beating somebody like Santana is quite a chore," Athletics manager Bob Geren said. "Congratulations to our offense for getting some runs off him. He's one of the best pitchers in baseball obviously, and it's always great when you can get a win off someone that."

Santana (6-5) yielded four runs and six hits in six innings while walking four and striking out four. The lefthander has tossed at least five innings for 103 starts in a row, which is the second longest streak behind Curt Schilling (147) by any pitcher in the last 50 years.

Gaudin (6-1), who entered with the second best ERA in the American league (2.32) behind teammate Dan Haren (1.64), surrendered eight hits in five innings but yielded only two runs. The righthander has won a career-high tying five consecutive games.

"It's tough against a guy like that," Gaudin said. "You know he's not going to give up a lot of runs, and you have to minimize pitches because he's going to do the same. It was a battle, and even though I didn't have my best stuff, I just tried to go out there and battle. When you come out of a game like this with a win, it's tremendous."

Jason Kubel led off the sixth with a solo blast to right off Gaudin and Jason Bartlett followed with single, chasing the righthander. For Gaudin, Kubel's shot snapped a string of 67 innings pitched without allowing a home run.

Five Oakland relievers bridged the gap to Alan Embree, who got the last four outs for his fourth save.

"I feel very fortunate," said Embree, who has assumed the closer role in the absence of the injured Huston Street. "If this if the role that I have to take on to help the team win, so be it. I'd much rather be handing the ball to Huston, but I have to take advantage of the situation and enjoy it."

Oakland opened the scoring in the first, when Mark Ellis doubled to left before being plated by Nick Swisher's RBI single for a 1-0 edge.

"We went out there and played well today," Swisher said. "He's not immortal. He's a tough pitcher and you bring your 'A' game when you face him. He's got two Cy Young's under his belt and you know that everyone has to face him and do their best."

Minnesota threatened in the third when Jason Tyner led off the inning with a double, Nick Punto drew a base on balls, and after Michael Cuddyer struck out, Justin Morneau was intentionally walked to load the bases. Gaudin ended the threat though by getting Torii Hunter to pop up to short right field ending the frame.

"We missed some opportunities early," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We left too may runners on base, and swung at some bad pitches in certain situations. We knew that they have good pitchers here and runs were going to be at a premium."

In the bottom of the frame when Shannon Stewart led off the third with a single to left, and after Nick Swisher and Dan Johnson walked to load the bases, Eric Chavez belted a sacrifice fly to center plating Stewart to give the Athletics a 2-0 edge.

Twins shortstop Bartlett then fielded Bobby Crosby's ground ball, and while attempting to get an inning-ending force at second, threw the ball past second baseman Luis Castillo and into right field, allowing Swisher and Johnson to score and giving Oakland a 4-0 lead.

"It was a disappointing day," Gardenhire said. "You obviously see that if you miss a play it can cost you. We missed one play today, and it cost us a couple of runs. Bartlett made a nice play to get to the ball, but threw it away. It happens."