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Johnson drives in winning run as A's edge Tigers

Sep 1, 2007 - 6:30 AM By Ryan Leong PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- It was fireworks night at McAfee Coliseum, and the Oakland Athletics provided plenty of explosive power.

Dan Johnson homered in the fourth inning and drove in the winning run in the 10th as the Athletics posted a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers in the opener of Friday's weekend series.

In the 10th, Mike Piazza hit a leadoff double into the left field corner off reliever Joel Zumaya (1-3). After J.J. Furmaniak came on to run for Piazza, Johnson ripped a fastball to right for a single and Furmaniak beat the throw home from All-Star Magglio Ordonez.

"I went up there and swung the bat just looking to pull anything," Johnson said. "It was, get the foot down early and do everything I can to pull it, and just got lucky enough to get the bat head out there and pull it. I was just trying to move him over and it was just a bonus to get him in."

Oakland closer Huston Street (3-2) recorded the win despite giving up two runs in the ninth to force extra frames. The Athletics held a 4-2 advantage in the ninth before Timo Perez and Sean Casey each drove in a run to tie the game.

"You've just got to battle, and that's what we're doing to finish up the season, and to get every win to finish above .500 is big," Street said. "To do that with as many injuries as we've had would be a success, so it's mixed emotions for me as far as I'm not getting my job done. But the team's still winning and so I've got to keep my head up and stay positive because that's the most important thing."

Joe Blanton was set to pick up the win after allowing just two runs and five hits with six strikeouts in seven innings.

"As long as we win, that's all that matters to me," Blanton said. "As long as there's a W at the end of the day, that's the most important thing. I really had to put my game face on from the first batter on because they've given me fits this year and even in the past, so I just went all out and was pleased with my effort."

The Athletics scored three times in the fourth against rookie Virgil Vasquez. Jack Cust hit one of the longest home runs at the Coliseum this season, blasting a ball high off the "batter's eye" in center field, nearly hitting the outfield luxury suites.

One out later, Johnson belted his 14th homer to snap a 2-2 tie. Marco Scutaro's two-out, RBI single capped the uprising.

That inning was the last for Vasquez, who allowed four runs and six hits in four frames.

"I felt comfortable out there," Vasquez said. "I felt like I was in control. They hit some pitches far and got the lead after we came out there and scored two, so I tried to have fun out there and it just didn't go as well as planned."

Jack Hannahan's line-drive homer to right in the second sliced Oakland's deficit to 2-1. The 27-year-old was acquired from the Tigers in a trade on August 14.

"Jack did a nice job again, he hit a home run against his former team and he's played very well for us," Athletics manager Bob Geren said. "We're very happy with what he's done."

Carlos Guillen hit an RBI triple down the right field line in the first and Ivan Rodriguez added a run-scoring base hit later in the inning to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

In losing for the ninth time in its last 14 games, Detroit (72-63) fell 5 1/2 games behind red-hot Cleveland (77-57) in the American League Central Division. The Indians posted an 8-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox earlier Friday night.

"We had a chance pick up a game in the wild card race and we let that slip away," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I know Cleveland won. I don't need to talk about that. If they lose, that's a bonus. We have to win games. If we don't win, it doesn't matter what anybody else does."