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Blanton, Athletics shut down White Sox

Aug 16, 2007 - 5:40 AM By Tom Kent PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Joe Blanton bounced back to outduel Mark Buehrle.

Blanton pitched seven scoreless innings and rookie catcher Kurt Suzuki belted a two-run home run off Buehrle as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Chicago White Sox, 3-2, on Wednesday.

Entering with a 1-4 record and 7.12 ERA in his last seven starts, Blanton was looking to rebound after allowing a career high-tying nine runs and seven hits in his last start against the Detroit Tigers on Friday.

"I was trying to block it out," said Blanton of his last start. "I just tried to ignore it like it never really happened. If you're thinking about it, you're going to try too hard. You just have to block it out and go out there and pitch."

"He pitched a great game," Athletics manager Bob Geren said. "He was down in the zone and had his breaking ball working. It seemed that he was in control of both sides of plate. He fell behind very few batters, but when he did he still located his fastball."

The righthander was stellar, yielding just five hits while striking five and not walking a batter.

"His last start was rough in Detroit," Suzuki said. "But the guy's got guts. To throw seven shutout innings against the White Sox definitely says something about him."

With Oakland holding a 1-0 lead in the seventh, rookie Donnie Murphy doubled to left, setting the stage for fellow rookie Suzuki, who belted an 0-2 Buehrle offering over the left field wall for a 3-0 margin.

"I was just trying to hit something in the outfield and score the run," Suzuki said. "Me and Ty (hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo) have been working on getting on top of the fastball, and I got to use it. Everything clicked and it was a nice feeling."

It was Suzuki's third home run since being recalled from Class AAA Sacramento on June 10.

Buehrle also was coming off perhaps his poorest start of the season after surrendering a season high-tying seven runs in four innings against the Cleveland Indians on Thursday.

"As a starter you want to throw a quality start every time out," Buehrle said. "If I can throw a quality start like this throughout the year, I will be all right. Blanton threw a great game though and kept our hitters off-balance. You have to tip your hat to him."

The three-time All Star allowed three runs and seven hits while walking three and striking out three in seven innings.

"Buehrle threw good," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "It was just that one bad pitch. He threw the ball real good. That pitch was the one that turned the game around, especially the way we've been swinging the bat. He continues to throw well. He does what he supposed to do every day out there."

Trailing, 3-0, in the eighth, Chicago answered back when rookie Josh Fields lifted an RBI sacrifice to left off Oakland reliever Alan Embree and Paul Konerko doubled home a run to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Houston Street came on in the ninth and set down the side in order for his 10th save.

Oakland opened the scoring off Buehrle with one out in the fourth inning when Nick Swisher lined a double down the left field line for the Athletics' first hit of game. After Jack Cust walked, Mike Piazza singled to right to plate Swisher for a 1-0 edge.

The Athletics have won three games in a row for the first time since June 13-15.