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Cust blasts two homers as Athletics edge White Sox

Aug 15, 2007 - 6:09 AM By Tom Kent PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - Jack Cust continues to make the most of his opportunity. Cust belted two homers and drove in three runs as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Chicago White Sox, 4-3, on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old Cust, who prior to being acquired by Oakland from the San Diego Padres in a minor league deal on May 3, had spent parts of six seasons with four different major league teams and had collected just five career home runs during that span.

"It's my first time I've been up at this level for an extended period of time," Cust said. "It's exciting for me to be able to play every day, and at the same time we're building a foundation for next year. Hopefully we can finish this year up strong as well. You never know, this game is crazy."

Since being called up by the injury-ridden Athletics from Class AAA Sacramento on May 4, the slugger has collected a team-leading 20 home runs.

"He's done pretty good here," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "They needed a power hitter when Frank Thomas left, and now (Eric) Chavez is hurt. This is not a good hitting park so good for him. I'm happy for him. He went around all over the place and now he has a home."

Cust's first blast came in the first inning off White Sox starter Jon Garland, when he deposited a 1-2 offering into the right field bleachers to give Oakland a 1-0 edge.

In the fourth, Cust reached Garland again for another solo shot over the left field wall to extend the advantage to 2-0. It was Cust's second career multi-homer game, with the first coming against on May 10 at Kansas City.

"The second one I was happy with the pitch," Garland said. "I was surprised it went out. I think he was surprised it went out. But he's a big league hitter, what are you going to do."

Cust added an RBI sacrifice fly to give the Athletics a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning. Cust is now 9-for-23 (.391) with three homers and 12 RBI over his last six games.

Oakland starter Lenny DiNardo (7-6), who has won four straight decisions, yielded two runs and six hits with three walks over five innings.

"Tonight was more of a struggle for me to throw strikes," DiNardo said. "I had trouble throwing strike one especially. I was fortunate the offense came through and picked me up and I got some good defense behind me."

Four Oakland relievers bridged the gap to Alan Embree, who surrendered an RBI single to Darin Erstad but still managed to record his 15th save of the season.

Donnie Murphy added a solo shot, his fourth of the season, off Garland in the fifth for a 3-1 margin.

"I'm having a blast," said Murphy, who was also called up from Class AAA Sacramento earlier this season. "I'm getting a chance to play every day and I want to take advantage of that."

Garland, who had not surrendered a home run in Oakland since 2004, allowed four runs and six hits with three walks and four strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings.

"I think Jon threw a pretty good ballgame," Guillen said. "Our offense shut it down a little bit today. We had some chances, but came up empty. Jon threw the ball well, we just couldn't get it done offensively."

Rookie Josh Fields blasted a solo home run in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 3-2. It was Fields' 13th homer of the season, which leads all American League rookies.