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Haren wins 15th as A's prevent Indians from clinching

Sep 23, 2007 - 3:54 AM By Todd Krepop PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics made sure the champagne stayed on ice.

Dan Haren won for the first time in a month as the Athletics defeated the Cleveland Indians, 9-3, on Saturday night.

Nick Swisher returned from his three-game suspension with three hits and two RBI and Mark Ellis drove in three runs as the A's snapped their five-game losing streak.

Despite the loss, Cleveland assured itself of at least a tie for the American League Central with the Detroit Tigers' loss to Kansas City. Cleveland (91-63) fell a half-game behind the Boston Red Sox (92-63) for the best overall record in the majors.

"It wasn't in the cards for us," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "It wasn't our night tonight."

Haren (15-8) came into Saturday's game on a four-game losing streak with an ERA near 6.00, but had little trouble with a Cleveland team that had a chance to wrap up its first divisional crown since the 2001 season.

"I've been struggling to pick up a win," Haren said. "There are times in a season every pitcher goes through something like this. I've had my struggles the last month."

Haren allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings while striking out six. His only mistake came in the fifth inning when he allowed a two-run homer to Grady Sizemore.

"Dan gave us a very strong outing," A's manager Bob Geren said. "He was solid all the way around."

While the home run didn't hurt Haren's chances of picking up a win, it might have cost him the American League ERA crown. Haren entered the game trailing Cleveland's Fausto Carmona 3.12 to 3.03. Haren's ERA remained unchanged after his outing, and he has one start remaining this season.

"We faced a good pitcher," Indians third baseman Casey Blake said. "You have to remember that guy started the All Star game. He's a tough pitcher to hit."

The A's offense went to work off of starter Paul Byrd (15-7) in the second inning as they took advantage of a miscommunication from the Indians' infielders.

With two outs, Ellis popped up Byrd's pitch in the infield for what should have been the third out. However nobody took charge as Blake, catcher Kelly Shoppach and Byrd watched as the ball dropped between them.

"It was the best hit I've ever had in my life," Ellis said. "I don't know what happened. I was running to first."

Marco Scutaro followed with a single and Jack Hannahan hit a two-run double to give the A's an early 2-0 lead.

"You're thinking I'll get the next guy out, he gets a hit," Byrd said. "A rookie then comes up, I throw him a good pitch and he hits a double. You're scratching your head wondering how I got here."

Ellis' solo home-run in the fourth extended the A's lead to 3-0. Byrd hung an 0-2 pitch that Ellis blasted down the left field line for his 19th home run.

"I hit that ball a little bit better," Ellis said. "It was 0-2 and I think he was trying to come inside. I was able to keep it fair."

After Byrd was chased from the game earlier in the inning, Ellis drove in another two runs in the fifth as he laced a double off the left field wall as part of a three-run inning, giving the A's a 6-0 lead.

Byrd gave up six runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. It was the second time in the last four starts that Byrd failed to get out of the fifth.

"It's disappointing (we didn't clinch tonight)," Byrd said. "I thought I threw the ball OK. The contact game that I bring to the table didn't work tonight."