OAKLAND, Calif. -- First, Barry Zito got teased by general manager Billy Beane for giving up a run. Then, teammate Tim Hudson hollered when Zito ordered the clubhouse music be turned down so he could do his postgame interview.
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| Miguel Tejada launches his three-run HR in the third inning.(AP) |
Zito pitched six solid innings and AL MVP Miguel Tejada hit a three-run homer as the Oakland Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 8-3 Wednesday night.
Eric Chavez also homered for the defending AL West champions, who won easily again for rookie manager Ken Macha. Hudson went eight innings in a 5-0 victory in the opener Tuesday night.
"You don't want to be the guy to let the team down," Zito said. "After what Huddy did last night, you don't want to be the lame mule to break the streak."
Tejada said before the game he would not be distracted by his contract situation, and he showed it. He can become a free agent after the season and wants a new deal from the A's before the end of the season if he's going to stay. But the club has said it can't afford to offer him a multiyear deal.
"I wasn't looking for a home run," the 26-year-old shortstop said. "I just want to get on base for my team. It's nice to have the first one."
Zito (1-0), one of four left-handers in Oakland's rotation, was scheduled to pitch the opener against Seattle in Tokyo last week, but the two-game series was canceled because of the war with Iraq. When the trip was called off, Macha juggled his rotation and Hudson started the opener.
Zito gave up one run and three hits to improve to 21-1 in his past 31 home starts, dating to June 18, 2001.
The eccentric 24-year-old won 23 games in 2002 to beat out Boston teammates Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe in the AL Cy Young voting. Zito became the youngest pitcher to win the award since Roger Clemens, who also was 24 when he won the first of his six Cy Young Awards in 1986.
"Coming into the season, the biggest thing obviously is not to take last season as a thing to take this season for granted," Zito said. "I won the Cy Young, but it doesn't mean I'm going to come out and dominate."
Soft-tossing Seattle lefty Jamie Moyer (0-1), a 13-game winner last season, gave up eight runs, six earned, and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked four.
Freddy Garcia lasted only 4 2/3 innings for the Mariners on Tuesday night.
Terrence Long's bases-loaded, RBI single chased Moyer, then Julio Mateo walked Ramon Hernandez to force in another run.
"Jamie just didn't get through it like he normally does, and it happened pretty quickly," Seattle manager Bob Melvin said. "We were on the verge of getting out of (innings). We have to find a way not to let them do that."
The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the first when Tejada misplayed a shallow flyball by John Olerud in center that scored Ichiro Suzuki from third. It was ruled a hit. The Mariners' offense struggled until adding two more runs in the ninth.
"It's no fun being 0-2 and it doesn't get any easier," Bret Boone said. "We're in a heck of a division. Back-to-back nights, that's as good as you can pitch."
Tejada made a nice play in the second inning, diving to catch a line drive by Jeff Cirillo. Tejada got up slowly after landing hard on his left elbow and shoulder area but wasn't hurt.
Mark Ellis had a two-run double, his second of the game, in the fourth. Seattle shortstop Carlos Guillen, back in the lineup after missing the opener with a left hip strain, made a fielding error in the inning, making both runs unearned.
Ellis cost Scott Hatteberg an RBI in the third when he missed third base and had to run back and touch the bag. He had to hold up there. Ellis patted his chest as a show of apology for the mistake.
It didn't matter when Tejada homered in the A's next at-bat. Ellis waited at home to greet Hatteberg, then apologized.
"I was the happiest man in the stadium, happier than Miggy," Ellis said. "I felt bad for Hatteberg. I've never done that in my life. I don't know what happened. My steps were off a little bit. It's inexcusable. Embarrassing."
Notes
- New A's CF Chris Singleton is 0-for-7 in his first two games.
- After going 3-for-4 Tuesday, new Seattle LF Randy Winn was 0-for-4.
- Both Seattle and Oakland play their first 19 games against AL West teams.
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