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Duchscherer sharp as A's top Orioles

May 7, 2008 - 6:30 AM By Al Barba PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Justin Duchscherer did his part to keep up in the Oakland Athletics' arms race.

Making his third start since returning from the disabled list, Duchscherer pitched seven solid innings as Oakland defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 4-2, on Tuesday night.

Duchscherer (3-1) allowed two runs and four hits while walking two and striking out four. The converted reliever has yet to allow more than two earned runs in a start this season.

"I am definitely encouraged. Like I said, last time I pitched five innings and my pitch count has been somewhat limited," Duchscherer said. "I felt great and hopefully from now on I get to the 100-plus pitch count total and keep going deeper into the games."

Oakland manager Bob Geren took Duchscherer out after seven innings because he liked the way his bullpen matched up against the hitters that Baltimore had coming up in the eighth and ninth innings.

"It was a game where it is not always a pitch count. There are a couple of factors. First of all he would have had to go through the lineup a fourth time," Geren said. "It was seven innings and he has not gone that many innings. I liked the way it was lined up for (Alan) Embree, and if he got through the eighth, righthanders were coming up for (Santiago) Casilla."

Casilla closed out the game by tossing a scoreless ninth inning for his first save of the season. The 27-year-old righthander also extended his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 17 1/3 frames.

Emil Brown continued his impressive hitting with runners in scoring position, delivering a run-scoring single in the first inning. Entering the game second in the American League with 27 RBI and tied for third with six go-ahead RBI, Brown has three multi-hit games in his last six starts.

Baltimore's Brian Burres (3-3) lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs - three earned - and eight hits while walking one and striking out one.

The left-hander lost his second straight start while the Orioles dropped a season-high four straight game and six of seven.

"Everybody in baseball goes through it and we're going through it right now," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said. "We're in every game. It just seems like things aren't going our way.

"Obviously you make your own fortune but I've got no problem with the approach. It seems like we make one mistake and it costs us. ... The worst thing in the world you can do is shove it down their throats and say they're not trying the best they can, because I know better."

Frank Thomas and Jack Cust lined singles into right field before Brown blooped a base hit just inside the right field foul line that scored Thomas and gave the Athletics a 1-0 lead.

The trio then sparked a two-run third, opening the inning with consecutive singles to load the bases. Bobby Crosby and Mark Ellis followed with grounders that each plated a run to extend the advantage to 3-0.

Oakland has been winning with a brand of "small ball" - a formula with which Duchscherer and Geren think the Athletics can continue to be successful.

"That's key. So far this season our pitching has kept us in games and if we can score just enough runs, I think our starting pitching staff is good enough that we can shorten games with our bullpen," Duchscherer said.

"It's kind of revolving around the pitching. We play a lot of close games," Geren said. "The way the roster is now, we have a couple of guys who can run. It brings a little bit different dimension to the team. We're not hitting a lot of home runs and you just have to figure out what you have and what you need to win each night."

Baltimore got within a run in the fourth, when it took advantage of a pair of walks by Duchscherer.

With two on and one out, Aubrey Huff singled to right to score Brian Roberts. After Kevin Millar's single loaded the bases, Luke Scott hit a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Nick Markakis.