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Willingham's homer helps A's sweep Orioles

May 30, 2011 - 3:54 AM Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Josh Willingham hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run fifth inning, as Oakland rallied from a three-run deficit to down Baltimore, 6-4, in the finale of a three-game set.

Willingham finished 2-for-4 and drove in four for the Athletics, who swept the series and have won four in a row overall. Conor Jackson and Daric Barton both added an RBI.

"We're playing more consistent baseball and I think, as a team, that's all you can really ask for," said Willingham.

Guillermo Moscoso (2-0) allowed four runs on five hits in five innings. Oakland's bullpen -- including Brian Fuentes, who earned his 11th save thanks to a scoreless ninth -- turned in four innings of two-hit ball.

Vladimir Guerrero, Nick Markakis, Felix Pie and Nolan Reimold each knocked in a run for the Orioles, who had won five straight coming into the weekend.

Zach Britton (5-3) was tagged in the loss for 10 hits and six runs over 5 2/3 innings.

"Any time you get swept, it's really disappointing, especially with the streak that we were on," said Britton. "This is a team I think we should handle. But obviously we didn't pitch well enough, we didn't go deep into games, we used our bullpen, and when you do that stuff you're not going to win many games."

Down 4-1, the A's struck back to take the lead for good with a big fifth inning.

Cliff Pennington singled with one out and advanced on a Coco Crisp infield hit. After Barton fanned, Jackson singled home Pennington and Willingham followed with the go-ahead blast to left.

Mark Ellis led off the sixth with a single and later came in on a Barton sacrifice fly and the home team led 6-4.

Andrew Bailey, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the contest, retired the side in order in the seventh.

Grant Balfour worked around a Guerrero single in the eighth, then Fuentes allowed a two-out hit in the ninth before closing out the game by getting pinch-hitter Ryan Adams to foul out.

Willingham singled in Barton in Oakland's first at-bat, but Baltimore tallied four times in the top of the fifth.

The O's loaded the bases with none out thanks to two singles and a botched sacrifice, then four straight batters pushed a run across: Pie singled, Reimold worked a walk, and both Markakis and Guerrero grounded out.

Game Notes

Both clubs are back in action on Monday, as Oakland welcomes the Yankees and Baltimore travels to Seattle...Prior to the contest, the Orioles recalled pitcher Pedro Viola from Double-A Bowie to complete the transaction after Saturday's game which saw the club option pitcher Brad Bergesen to Triple-A Norfolk...The Athletics optioned pitcher Bobby Cramer to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for Bailey...Orioles center fielder Adam Jones left the game with an apparent shoulder injury.