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Haren, Swisher lead Athletics past Orioles

May 26, 2007 - 3:21 AM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics won again at what has apparently become their East Coast home-away-from-home.

Dan Haren pitched seven strong innings and Nick Swisher hit a two-run homer as the Athletics topped the Baltimore Orioles, 3-2, in the opener of a three-game set on Friday.

Hiram Bocachica also drove in a run for Oakland, which has won 14 of their last 16 games in Oriole Park at Camden Yards, including all three games here this season.

"(Haren) found his breaking ball after the first inning and then got into rhythm once he found his fastball," Athletics manager Bob Geren said. "He had a nice string in the game where he was unhittable also."

Haren (5-2) allowed one run, two hits and one walk while striking out three. The 6-5 righthander, who retired 11 in a row between the third and sixth innings, improved to 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA in four career starts at Camden Yards.

Alan Embree held off Baltimore threats in the eighth and ninth to record his second save of the season.

"We had a closer go down, so I've had a few opportunities," Embree said. "I appreciate that (Geren) has that confidence in me. I enjoy getting the ball in big situations. It's new territory for me, but I keep the same approach as I would in the seventh or eighth innings."

Oakland's usual closer, Huston Street, has been on the disabled list since May 13 with an ulnar nerve irritation.

Swisher put the Athletics ahead, 2-1, in the third inning with a two-run blast off Baltimore starter Erik Bedard (3-3), who has not won a game since April 18.

"It was a fastball down and I hit it off the end of the bat," Swisher said. "That guy can pitch. You are lucky to get one good pitch all game to hit off him."

It was Swisher's seventh home run of the season and third against the Orioles, as he hit two long balls in a victory here on April 23.

Haren struggled in the first inning, throwing 25 pitches and allowing an RBI single to Miguel Tejada, but allowed just one hit and hit a batter through his next six innings. The 26-year-old has allowed three runs or less in all 11 of his starts this season and leads the American League with a 1.73 ERA.

"I didn't have my best stuff tonight," Haren said. "I was thinking it was going to be a long night, but (catcher Jason Kendall) helped me stayed locked in. As the game went along, I got stronger."

Bedard allowed three runs - two earned - and six hits in seven innings. The lefthander, who has not earned a victory in his last seven starts, walked three and struck out eight.

"Absolutely could not have asked for much more out of (Bedard)," Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo said. "The last two innings, I thought were his best two. He really sucked it up for us and got us through seven knowing the pen needed a little rest. He kept us in that ballgame."

Baltimore cut the lead to 3-2 when Kevin Millar hit a one-out solo homer in the eighth off Jay Marshall, who then allowed a single to Corey Patterson. With Kiko Calero in the game to face Jay Payton, Patterson moved into scoring position with a steal of second.

After Payton flew out to left, Embree entered the game and ended the threat by getting Brian Roberts to fly out to right.

The Orioles made things interesting in the ninth, getting the tying run to second base with one out.

Embree allowed a lead off walk to Nick Markakis in the ninth before getting Miguel Tejada to fly out. Aubrey Huff moved Markakis to second base with a single to left field, before being replaced by pinch runner Freddie Bynum.

"It's definitely more intense (closing games)," Embree said. "It's very rare that I pitch in two innings, so I need to get used to it a little bit. Really need to learn to bare down on the first batter. I'm glad the walk didn't end up hurting me."

Ramon Hernandez followed with a potential double-play ball to shortstop Bobby Crosby, but Bynum slid hard into Mark Ellis at second base to prevent the twin-killing from being completed.

With two outs and the tying run 90 feet from home plate, Embree struck out Jay Gibbons to end the game.

"(Gibbons) had some good swings at it and just swung at one out of the zone on that last one," Perlozzo said.