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Duchscherer, Athletics thwart Marlins

Jun 23, 2008 - 12:18 AM By Michael Duca PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Justin Duchscherer shut down one of the National League's most potent offense as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Florida Marlins 7-1, on Sunday.

Mark Ellis had three hits and scored twice and Emil Brown reached four times as the Athletics won the rubber game of the three-game interleague series.

Duchscherer (8-4) cruised through 7 2/3 innings on 105 pitches, allowing six hits, walking two and hitting another. The only run he allowed came on Jeremy Hermida's first-inning homer, only the fourth allowed by Duchscherer this year.

"First inning," Duchscherer said, "the second hitter hits a homer, and I kind of told myself to keep the ball down and let that be the only one they get. It turned out that way."

A converted reliever, Duchscherer had allowed two or fewer runs in 10 of 11 starts. He became the AL ERA leader when Dan Uggla hit into a double play in the sixth inning, giving the Oakland righthander enough innings to qualify.

"I feel that throwing out of the bullpen for four years has helped me a lot," Duchscherer said. "As a reliever coming into the seventh, eighth inning, the game is always on the line, so when I get into that situation as a starter, I've been there and I'm more able to make pitches."

Duchscherer's 1.99 ERA is well below that of Cleveland's Cliff Lee, who led the AL at 2.45 entering play Sunday. Oakland also took over the major league lead with a team ERA of 3.41.

"Sometimes, in baseball, things go your way," Duchscherer said. "This year, I feel like I've caught breaks that have saved me runs and saved me some pitches."

The Marlins have been winning games despite having the worst fielding in the National League. On Sunday, their shaky defense caught up with them.

Florida starter Andrew Miller deserved a better fate. The lefthander threw 86 pitches in four innings before being excused trailing, 5-1.

With the Marlins down, 2-1, in the third inning, courtesy of a first-inning error and a passed ball, Miller induced Kurt Suzuki to hit a sharp one-hopper to first baseman Jorge Cantu. Cantu stepped on first and threw home for what should have been the third out, but catcher Mike Rabelo failed to realize it was a tag play once Cantu stepped on the bag.

"As the ball was in the air I'm second-guessing myself: Did he touch it (the bag)? Did he not touch it?" Rabelo said. "The second it hit my glove and I stepped on the plate, I could just tell by the reaction that he had touched it and therefore there was no forceout at home.

"I just basically messed it up. And of course, on the next pitch, two RBIs. I wanted to take my shin guard off and strangle myself."

Ryan Sweeney scored on the play and Brown's pop-fly single brought in two more - all earned, but all chargeable to defensive lapses. The two RBI were Brown's first since May 25, and his first multiple-RBI game since May 10.

"I threw some good pitches and some bad pitches," Miller said. "That inning, two of their guys reached on four-pitch walks. That's bad, and then the big hit that knocked them in was the blooper over first base (Brown) so it was one of those days as frustrating as can be but I felt I pitched better than the score showed."

Oakland tacked on a pair against reliever Matt Lindstrom, highlighted by a steal of home by Carlos Gonzalez at the front of a double-steal.

Things got testy in the bottom of the seventh when home plate umpire Lance Barksdale ejected Ellis for flipping his bat after being called out on strikes. it was Ellis' first career ejection and marked the first Oakland ejection of the season. It was followed shortly by the second, when Barksdale ran A's manager Bob Geren.

"I think it was a miscommunication," Geren said of Ellis' ejection. "Mark threw his helmet and bat, and the umpire said it was an equipment violation. Mark turned around and said, 'Equipment violation?' and Barksdale thought he said something else."

Ellis was not available for comment after the game.

The four earned runs were the most Miller (5-6) had allowed since April 29 vs. the Dodgers.