• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Swisher homers, A's hang on to give Gaudin a rare win

Sep 14, 2007 - 6:26 AM By Tom Kent PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - The Oakland Athletics managed just enough offense against the Texas Rangers.

Nick Swisher belted a two-run home run and Chad Gaudin pitched six effective innings as the Athletics held off the Rangers, 6-5, on Thursday.

With Oakland leading, 2-1, in the third, rookie Daric Barton led off the frame with a double down the right field line off Texas starter Kevin Millwood (9-12). Swisher then deposited a 1-0 offering over the center field wall for his 20th homer of the season and a 4-1 advantage.

"I just got lucky and got a pitch up and out over the zone," Swisher said. "They've been working with me on that situation all year. If I hit the ball deep enough I can get the runner over to third. He just got a pitch out over the plate and I got the barrel of the bat on it."

Given a lead, Gaudin (11-11), who had not won since August 23, managed to keep the Rangers in check by yielding three runs in six innings. He walked two and struck out eight.

"I know felt positive towards the outing," Gaudin said. "I was in control and made some good pitches when I needed to. I attacked the zone and didn't fall behind too much."

For Gaudin, the 2007 campaign has been a tale of two seasons.

The 24-year-old righthander had posted an impressive 8-3 record with a 2.88 ERA in 18 starts prior to the All-Star break. However, the converted reliever faltered after the break, going 2-8 with a 7.01 ERA in 12 starts.

"It was huge for him," Swisher said. "It was important for Chad to come out and have a great outing today. He pitched great and our bullpen came in and finished it off."

Gaudin was chased in the seventh with a 4-1 lead after surrendering a single to Jarrod Saltalamacchia and a double to Ramon Vazquez. Frank Catalanotto then lined a single to left off A's reliever Santiago Casilla and, after Ian Kinsler was hit by a pitch, Michael Young doubled to right to cut the deficit to 6-5.

Ruddy Lugo threw two scoreless innings and closer Huston Street worked a perfect ninth for his 15th save in 19 chances.

"Ruddy came in and did a great job," Gaudin said. "He went out there and shut them down. He was big in that situation."

Millwood, who was looking to notch his second consecutive 10-win season, allowed six runs and eight hits in just 4 2/3 innings while pitching on three days' rest.

"I just didn't throw good pitches," Millwood said. "I was leaving the ball up a lot. I thought my stuff was good, I just didn't put it in right spots."

Young singled in the third to extend his hitting streak to a team- and season-high 13 games for Texas, which has lost three straight after a season-high six-game winning streak.

"They just jumped on him early," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "They got him in the first, got him in the third, got him in the fifth. They worked him good and got his pitch count up."

Jack Cust drove in two runs for the Athletics.