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Streaking Athletics thump slumping Devil Rays

Aug 24, 2007 - 3:22 AM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- A meeting with Jason Hammel appeared to be a mismatch for the Oakland Athletics. The team with the second-best record in the major leagues this month proved it to be just that.

Mike Piazza collected four hits - including a home run - and five RBI and Chad Gaudin recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts as the Athletics pounded the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 12-2, on Thursday.

The victory was the 15th in 22 games this month for Oakland (65-64), which moved a game over .500 for the first time since it was 44-43 on July 7.

Piazza keying Oakland's 16-hit attack with a single, two doubles and his fifth home run of the season. Nick Swisher went 3-for-6 for the Athletics, who had all nine starters in the batting order collect at least one hit.

"It wasn't meant to be," said Piazza, who came a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. "I was just glad to come in tonight and swing the bat well. It's like a wave, you try to catch it until it crashes - and then you try to catch another one."

Gaudin (10-9), who was 1-6 in his previous eight starts, allowed only one run and five hits in seven innings.

"I was keeping them off balance," Gaudin said. "The slider was a good pitch tonight. It's a big asset to my game. It feels good to have a win and it's good for the team. I just try to go out there and do my job. It's a lot easier when it's 12-1."

Hammel (1-4) remained winless in his 16 major league starts, the longest losing streak for a starter to begin a career since Oakland's Mike Mohler went without a victory in all 20 career starts from 1993-97.

A 24-year-old righthander, Hammel lasted only three innings, allowing six runs, five hits and five walks while striking out two.

"I've got to throw strikes," Hammel said. "Five walks was the story tonight. I've got to do what comes naturally, just pitch. They're patient hitters and when you're not throwing strikes, they're going to hurt you."

The Athletics broke open the game with a five-run second. In the inning, Shannon Stewart had a two-run double, Swisher an RBI double and Jack Cust a two-run homer - his 22nd of the season.

Piazza opened the scoring in the first with a run-scoring double and did the rest of his damage later, delivering a run-scoring single in the fourth, belting a two-run shot in the sixth and plating Oakland's final run in the eighth with a two-base hit.

"The offense came alive, Mike Piazza had a big day," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "We've been swinging the bat well the last couple of weeks. Jack Cust has meant a lot to the team. Chad was great tonight. He has been working on his game and had good control of his slider."

Akinori Iwamura had an RBI single in the third and Jonny Gomes added a run-scoring base hit in the eighth for the Devil Rays, who started the season 29-33 but are 19-46 in their last 65 games.

"The last seven days we have not hit well," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "We've seen some good pitching. We need to just grind it out. I think we're playing better on defense. We're pitching well and all of sudden we're not hitting well."