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Athletics complete sweep of Orioles with 3-0 win

Jun 7, 2009 - 11:36 PM By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer

OAKLAND, Calif.(AP) -- The last-place Oakland Athletics are on quite a roll. In particular, their rookie pitchers.

Vin Mazzaro pitched into the eighth inning, Jason Giambi drew a bases-loaded walk in the first and the A's beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-0 on Sunday for their season-high sixth straight win.

"This is an awesome feeling," Mazzaro said.

After Adam Jones led off the game with a single, Mazzaro (2-0) retired 15 of the next 16 Orioles hitters - an impressive showing for his second career start and first at home.

The 22-year-old right-hander was called up last Tuesday to make his major league debut and earned the win against the White Sox in Chicago. This time, he left to a standing ovation when he walked off the mound in the eighth following Robert Andino's one-out single.

"I was definitely more relaxed," Mazzaro said. "That first game really helped."

With only two hits, Oakland matched its longest winning streak against the Orioles at eight games and earned a three-game sweep for the first time this year. This is the A's longest winning streak since Aug. 11-16, 2006, when they also won six in a row. Oakland's starters have won six straight games as well, for the first time since getting eight straight victories from June 8-16, 2006.

Mazzaro, Brett Anderson, Trevor Cahill and Josh Outman are the rookie starters in an inexperienced Oakland rotation.

"They're attacking the strike zone and putting hitters away," catcher Kurt Suzuki said. "That's big. They're getting more comfortable."

Andrew Bailey pitched the ninth for his fourth save, completing the team's third shutout - and third in the last six games after not getting any in the first 49. The Orioles were blanked for the third time.

This was a bad day for Baltimore from the start. Rich Hill failed to get out of the first inning, the second time it happened for an Orioles starter during the series. Jeremy Guthrie gave up six runs in the first inning of Friday night's 9-1 loss.

"The game is pitching and defense, and it's starting pitching," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "When you're playing a three-game series, and two out of the three you're taking your starting pitcher out in the first inning, that ought to tell you your starting pitching's not giving you what you need to have a chance."

Hill (2-1) walked three straight batters with one out in the first and forced in runs with a free pass and by plunking Suzuki with a pitch. Giambi served as the designated hitter rather than playing first base in order to give his legs a break after he left Saturday night's 9-4 win with tightness in his right calf.

"It was disappointing to go out there and pitch that terrible inning," Hill said. "I really don't think it was mechanical at all. Mechanically I felt good. Just result-wise it wasn't there."

The Orioles, who have lost 24 of their last 32 games at the Coliseum, outhit Oakland 5-2 but couldn't capitalize in their fifth straight loss and seventh in eight games. They concluded a 1-5 road trip and have dropped 21 of their last 26 away from Camden Yards. The club's upcoming nine-game homestand certainly will be a welcome change.

Baltimore has scored only 10 runs in its last seven games and has been held to six or fewer hits in five of those.

Notes: Oakland INF Bobby Crosby left after the seventh to be with his wife, Gina, who went into labor with the couple's first child. ... Mazzaro has thrown 105 pitches in each of his first two starts. ... Baltimore is 0-9 in road series finales. ... The A's have outscored opponents 38-8 during the winning streak. ... Oakland CF Ryan Sweeney hopes to test his sprained left knee with baseball activity Monday and be back in the lineup either that night in the series opener against Minnesota or by Tuesday. ... The Orioles placed SS Cesar Izturis on the 15-day disabled list following his appendectomy Friday and purchased the contract of Oscar Salazar from Triple-A Norfolk. Salazar started at first base and batted sixth. ... The Orioles haven't won in Oakland since July 22, 2007. ... Oakland OF Travis Buck (strained side muscle) will leave Monday for a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento.