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Bailey dominates, helps Reds to first win over A's

Jun 20, 2007 - 6:20 AM OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Rookie Homer Bailey proved to be the Cincinnati Reds' answer to the riddle that was the Oakland Athletics.

Bailey tossed seven stellar innings and Alex Gonzalez and Javier Valentin combined for four RBI as the Reds posted their first interleague victory over the Athletics, 5-2, on Tuesday.

Ken Griffey Jr. continued his torrid home run pace for the Reds, who had not beaten the A's since sweeping four games from Oakland in the 1990 Fall Classic - a span of seven meetings.

"It's nice to get a win here," Cincinnati manager Jerry Narron said. "The A's have owned the Reds since the World Series. I look forward to tomorrow, it would be nice to win the series here." Bailey (2-0), who was selected seventh overall in the 2004 draft by Cincinnati, was making just his third career start since being promoted from Class AAA Louisville on June 8.

Bailey did not allow a hit until Mark Ellis led off the fifth with a single and did not allow a runner into scoring position until rookie Travis Buck walked and scored on a double from Mark Kotsay in the sixth to cut the lead to 4-1.

"You know they're a good hitting team," Bailey said. "Every player on their team is a good hitter or else they wouldn't be here. I just knew that they were patient and I went over different guys that they have faced in the past. I just stuck with my game plan."

After tossing five innings and allowing two runs to earn the victory in his first career start against Cleveland, Bailey did not factor in the decision against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in his last outing after allowing five runs in six frames.

"We needed a good start, and that's exactly what he gave us," Narron said. "He's had three good starts against three good clubs now."

Against Oakland, the 21-year-old righthander yielded just one run and two hits in seven innings while striking out three and walking four.

Oakland manager Bob Geren was extremely impressed with the rookies effort.

"We ran into a pretty good pitcher tonight," Geren said. "Homer Bailey was really impressive for a young guy. He kept us down to just a couple of hits."

Gonzalez gave Bailey an early lead when he hit a two-run single that scored Adam Dunn and Jeff Conine. Valentin followed with a sacrifice to left for a 3-0 cushion.

The Reds added to their lead in the third when Griffey belted a solo blast over the right field wall for a 4-0 lead.

It was the slugger's 19th home run of the season and 582nd of his career, bringing him within one of tying Mark McGwire for seventh place on the all-time list. It was also Griffey's fourth homer in his last five games.

However, while Griffey acknowledges his accomplishments, he also knows he is lacking something else.

"We won. That's the most important thing," Griffey said. "It's an individual sport, but it's a team sport as well. Some great players have had some milestones and not won a championship. It's still every player's goal to win a championship."

Meanwhile, Valentin padded the lead with an RBI double off the right field wall in the eighth against Oakland reliever Colby Lewis for a 5-1 margin.

Rookie catcher Kurt Suzuki completed the Athletics scoring in the eighth with his first career home run, a drive over the left field wall off Cincinnati reliever Todd Coffey, for a 5-2 deficit.

After Coffey allowed the home run he was relieved by rookie Jon Coutlangus, who got one out before giving way to David Weathers, who threw the final 1 1/3 innings for his 14th save in 16 tries.

Gaudin (6-2) was unbeaten over his last nine starts entered with a career-high tying five-game winning streak, but was reached for four runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.

"Gaudin just had that one tough inning," Geren said. "They linked together a couple of hits and then he gave up the homer to Griffey. After that, he came on pretty strong and put some zeros up."