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Gaudin allows one hit as Athletics blank Yankees

Jun 30, 2007 - 9:59 PM BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics have endured a number of frustrating things on their current road trip but had to be extremely pleased with what they saw from Chad Gaudin.

Gaudin allowed just one hit in seven innings as the Athletics posted a 7-0 victory over the slumping New York Yankees on Saturday.

Rich Harden struck out two to work out of a jam in the eighth before pitching a flawless ninth to preserve the one-hitter.

"It was working good," Gaudin said. "I had a good rhythm going, a good tempo going. We caught a couple of breaks too. Guys hit balls hard, right at people."

"A tremendous job," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "He did a nice job against righthanders and lefthanders. I like to see that. He threw some breaking balls that the lefthanders swung over and obviously a great pitch to the lefties."

Oakland came into the middle game of the three-game series at Yankee Stadium with 10 losses in its previous 13 games and seven of eight on a 10-game road trip. Among those losses, four had taken place in New York where Oakland had scored just four runs.

"We really needed it," Oakland first baseman Dan Johnson said. "It's been one of those things when we pitch, we don't hit and when we hit, we don't pitch. That's kind of how it's been this road trip."

Like Oakland's offense, Gaudin (7-3) also had been slumping as he entered Saturday's contest 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in his previous three starts. He did not continue that negative trend as he resembled the pitcher that was 5-1 with a 2.43 ERA in his first 13 starts.

The 24-year-old, who had made 10 career starts before filling in for the injured Esteban Loaiza, took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing a one-out single to Johnny Damon.

"I was aware of it," Gaudin said. "I try not to let it bother me. If it happens, it happens. I'm just going to keep sticking with the plan, sticking with what I'm doing."

"Kind of," Oakland first baseman Dan Johnson said when asked if he knew a no-hitter was taking place. "It wasn't like, 'Ooh, no-hitter, ooh, no-hitter. I was thinking whatever, he's pitching well. But then it really came clear in the sixth when that guy hit the ball."

The only serious threat against Gaudin came with two outs in the sixth when he walked Bobby Abreu and fell behind Alex Rodriguez. But he regrouped and struck out the major league's leading run producer and retired the side in the seventh.

Gaudin struck out four and walked three. He struck out Rodriguez twice, also fanned Derek Jeter and threw 57 of 96 pitches for strikes.

"You have to give him credit," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "Unfortunately, we were easy for him. He pitched an outstanding game but certainly we're more capable."

It was the 26th one-hitter in franchise history and first since Barry Zito combined with three relievers on a one-hitter at Seattle on April 8, 2006.

The Athletics supported Gaudin with home runs by Jason Kendall, Shannon Stewart and Dan Johnson off Yankees starter Kei Igawa (2-2).

"We've been struggling hitting, putting up runs," Gaudin said. "To come out today and put up runs was great. It was great to see guys turn around and fire it up early and Kendall getting a home run - that was awesome."

Kendall opened the scoring with a home run to left field in the third. It was his second home run of the season and just the third in his last 419 games.

Just three pitches later, Stewart hit his seventh home run to left field.

After stranding two in the third, Oakland maintained a 2-0 lead until the sixth when Eric Chavez drew a two-out walk and Johnson crushed a 1-2 pitch into the upper deck in right field for his eighth home run.

Oakland padded its lead in the seventh off Scott Proctor. Proctor gave up a pair of one-out singles and allowed a two-out double to Nick Swisher that sailed over center fielder Melky Cabrera's head.

Proctor exited to boos from the sellout crowd of 54,150 before lefthander Mike Myers took over. Myers walked Jack Cust, gave up a double to Chavez and was replaced by Luis Vizcaino, who intentionally walked Johnson but retired Bobby Crosby to end the nightmarish inning.

Igawa made his second start since returning from a six-week stint in the minors to improve his mechanics. In his first appearance at home since May 4 against the Seattle Mariners, he allowed four runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings.

"During practice, I do think a lot about my mechanics," Igawa said through an interpreter. "But when it comes to game time, all I'm trying to do is get batters out."