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Steady fits Justin just fine
Oakland Tribune, May 7, 2008 by Joe Stiglich
OAKLAND -- Tuesday's outing was a lot more uneventful than Justin Duchscherer's previous one.
The A's right-hander went just five innings last Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels in a 15-8 Oakland victory that was comical before it eventually became one-sided.
A dropped fly ball led to Duchscherer allowing five unearned runs that night. He also sat on the bench for what seemed like an eternity as the A's batted around in an eight-run fifth inning.
No such bizarre happenings on Tuesday night at McAfee Coliseum, where the A's cashed in a workmanlike 4-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
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But it goes in the win column just the same, and it clinched the series victory for the A's, who finish up a six-game homestand today against the Orioles.
Duchscherer will take uneventful, if it brings with it a pitching line like Tuesday's.
He scattered four hits over seven innings, allowing two earned runs with four strikeouts and two walks as Oakland raised its record to 21-14 and stayed a game behind the Angels in the AL West.
Manager Bob Geren won't complain either.
The A's entered Tuesday with a starters ERA of 3.33, best in the majors. They've done that largely without right-handerRich Harden, who appears close to returning from the disabled list.
But outings from Duchscherer like Tuesday's also are encouraging. The right-hander was making his third start since coming off the DL for a strained right biceps, and he's looked solid in each.
The A's didn't rip the ball against Baltimore starter Brian Burres, but they picked away at him for four runs (three earned) in 5 innings.
They put their first run on the board with a two-out rally in the first. Frank Thomas -- hitting third after batting cleanup in his first 12 games with the A's, singled to start it. Jack Cust lined a sharp single to move him into scoring position, and Emil Brown drove Thomas in with a blooper that fell down the line in right.
In the third, consecutive singles from Thomas, Cust and Brown, none of which were particularly stung, loaded the bases with no outs. The A's netted two runs on fielder's choice grounders from Bobby Crosby and Mark Ellis to go up 3-0.
The Orioles trimmed the deficit to 3-2 with two runs in the fourth, as Duchscherer allowed two hits and two walks.
The A's added to their lead in the sixth, aided by a throwing error by Baltimore third baseman Melvin Mora, who threw wildly to second while trying to force Ellis on a grounder by Donnie Murphy.
The miscue put A's runners on second and third with no outs, and Rajai Davis' sacrifice fly made it 4-2.
Duchscherer has wanted to extend his pitch count ever since he came off the DL on April 26. He threw 73 pitches in a loss to Seattle on the day he was activated.
He picked up the victory in last Thursday's 81-pitch effort against the Angels, and he probably would have pitched longer if not for the prolonged periods he had to wait as the A's paraded around the bases.
He kept his pitch count down and left after just 85 pitches Tuesday, as Geren went to his strong bullpen. Alan Embree delivered a 1-2-3 eighth inning. With closer Huston Street having pitched the previous two days, Santiago Casilla handled the ninth and registered his first save of 2008.
He allowed a two-out walk to Kevin Millar to bring the tying run to the plate. But third baseman Jack Hannahan secured the final out by making a nice catch on Luke Scott's foul popup along the rail off the left-field line.
How they scored
A's first: Thomas singled with two outs. Cust singled, Thomas to second. E.Brown singled, Thomas scored. A's 1, Orioles 0.
A's third: Thomas singled. Cust singled, Thomas to second. E.Brown singled, Thomas to third, Cust to second. Crosby grounded into fielder's choice, Thomas scored, Cust to third, E.Brown out. Ellis grounded into fielder's choice, Cust scored, Crosby out. A's 3, Orioles 0.
Orioles fourth: Roberts walked. Mora grounded out, Roberts to second. Markakis walked. Huff singled, Roberts scored, Markakis to second. Millar singled, Markakis to third, Huff to second. Scott hit a sacrifice fly, Markakis scored. A's 3, Orioles 2.
A's sixth: Ellis was hit by a pitch. Murphy safe on fielder's choice and Mora's error, Ellis to third. Davis hit a sacrifice fly, Ellis scored, Murphy to third. A's 4, Orioles 2.
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