• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Beltre, Vidro too much for Haren, Athletics

Jul 7, 2007 - 6:51 AM OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Dan Haren may have lost his bid to become the American League's starting pitcher in Tuesday's All-Star Game.

Adrian Beltre went 5-for-5 with two homers and Jose Vidro snapped a tie with a two-run double in the seventh inning, sending Haren to his first loss since April 7 as the Seattle Mariners posted a 7-1 triumph over the Oakland Athletics on Friday.

Haren, who was named to the All-Star team on Sunday and was one of five candidates for the starting job, entered with an AL-low 2.20 ERA and a career-high 10-game winning streak. The righthander lost his first two starts of the season despite allowing a total of one earned run before going on a tremendous run.

"That's the least of my worries right now," Haren said, referring to the All-Star Game. "Obviously, I'm disappointed, but these are big games in our division going into the break. The All-Star Game will be a fun thing, but right now I'm more concerned with the outcome of tonight."

"He's in the All-Star Game and he's had a great first half," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "He should be congratulated if he starts or not. It's still a great honor for him to represent us in that game."

It was the longest active winning streak in the major leagues and the most consecutive wins by an Oakland pitcher since Mark Mulder reeled off 11 straight victories in 2004.

However, Haren (10-3) proved mortal against the Mariners, allowing four runs - three earned - and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out three and walking one.

"He's one of the elite," Seattle manager John McLaren said. "Beating that guy was a chore. We got some breaks and were able to take advantage of them. We are really happy to get a win against him."

Seattle opened the scoring in the second inning, when Beltre deposited an 0-2 offering over the left field wall for a 1-0 edge. It was both the 11th homer of the season for Beltre and 11th allowed by Haren this year.

"It was a split," Haren said. "My split gave me problems tonight. I wasn't able to keep it down like I would like to. I finally got beat with it."

"He has nasty stuff and can make you look bad out there," Beltre said. "I got a good look at that pitch and didn't miss it."

Vidro highlighted a three-run rally in the seventh for Seattle, following a one-out single by Willie Bloomquist and an error by Oakland third baseman Marco Scutaro with a double to left-center field that plated both runners and gave the Mariners a 3-1 lead.

Filling in for Eric Chavez, who sat out with a sore back, Scutaro committed four errors in the defeat, tying the AL record.

The two-base hit also chased Haren, who was relieved by Joe Kennedy. Raul Ibanez greeted the lefthander with an RBI single, capping the uprising.

Beltre struck again the eighth against Kennedy, launching a two-run shot to left for a 6-1 bulge. It was Beltre's second multi-homer game of the season and 16th career.

The blasts ended a nine-game drought for the third baseman.

"Beltre popped a couple, and it was great to see, for his sake," McLaren said. "He's feeling good about himself. He works hard and sometimes he carries too much of a load on himself."

Beltre completed his second career five-hit game with a single in the ninth. He also recorded five hits while with the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 28, 2004 against the New York Mets.

"See the ball and try to put a good swing on it," Beltre said. "You never want to try and do too much. You just try to hit the ball hard somewhere and hope it falls. That's all I've been trying to do."

Seattle starter Jeff Weaver yielded just one run and four hits while walking two and striking out four in five innings. Weaver, who lost his first six starts before being placed on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis on May 11, had posted a 2-0 record with a 1.65 ERA in three starts since being activated.

"It was a battle to get through five innings," Weaver said. "You got Haren on the other side, who is a guy that can shut down your lineup. I just tried not to give in to those guys, especially the middle of their lineup. I was fortunate to make pitches when I needed to, but it was a grind to put those zeros up there."

Eric O'Flaherty (6-0) tossed a perfect sixth inning to pick up the win.

Oakland's lone run came in the fourth, when Dan Johnson lined a double to left field that scored Nick Swisher from second base.