OAKLAND, Calif. -- Nick Swisher drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game in the seventh inning, then Eric Chavez followed with a sacrifice fly in the Oakland Athletics' 5-3 victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday.
That saved the day for A's ace Dan Haren, who won his ninth straight decision and third consecutive start despite giving up two home runs in a game for the second time this year.
Shannon Stewart added a solo homer in the eighth. Jack Cust's two-run shot in the fourth put the A's on the board, and Oakland took advantage of its chances once Reds starter Matt Belisle was out of the game.
Mark Kotsay walked to load the bases against Jon Coutlangus in the seventh, then Swisher drew another free pass to force home Bobby Crosby. Chavez followed with his sacrifice fly.
Marcus McBeth (1-1) took the loss after giving up rally-starting singles to Crosby and Mark Ellis.
Oakland bounced back from a disappointing interleague series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals last weekend with its 22nd victory of 2007 by two or fewer runs. Full story
Twins 6, Mets 2
NEW YORK -- Torii Hunter hit a two-run homer and Scott Baker pitched five effective innings to help the Minnesota Twins beat the New York Mets.
Joe Mauer also drove in two runs for Minnesota, which won two of three in its first series at Shea Stadium since 2002. Johan Santana tossed a four-hitter in the Twins' 9-0 victory Tuesday night and Baker allowed two runs and seven hits in the finale.
Carlos Beltran went 3-for-4 and singled in a run for the foundering Mets, who have lost 13 of 16. New York has dropped six straight series since it took two of three games against San Francisco from May 29-31.
Baker (2-2) struck out three and walked none in his first win since May 19. He had allowed 17 runs in 13 1-3 innings over his previous three starts.
Marlins 5, White Sox 4
CHICAGO -- Ozzie Guillen was more reserved this time, his anger at his team's most recent loss -- against the Marlins -- toned down from the previous night. He asked how long it had been since the White Sox had won a series. The answer -- a month -- made him chuckle sarcastically.
The White Sox lost for the 19th time in 24 games, a staggering figure for a team that won the World Series two years ago.
Chicago starter Jon Garland had given up just two hits when he entered the eighth with the White Sox leading 2-1. But Aaron Boone opened the inning with a single and shortstop Juan Uribe made his second error, missing Garland's throw at second on Brett Carroll's bunt.
That's what the White Sox have been saying all season -- that they're better than how they've played. But they're now 10 games under .500 for the first time since the 2001 season.
Diamondbacks 7, Devil Rays 4
PHOENIX -- Chad Tracy and Eric Byrnes each hit a three-run homer, and Arizona defeated the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Micah Owings won his fourth straight decision and Byrnes went 4-for-5 with a double and two singles. He doubled in the first, singled in the third and homered in the fourth, all off starter James Shields (6-2). Byrnes added another single in the sixth against Brian Stokes.
The game began less than 14 hours after Arizona beat Tampa Bay 10-8 on Tuesday night, tying a team record by rallying from a six-run deficit. Thanks to Tracy and Byrnes, the Diamondbacks led 6-0 after four innings Wednesday.
Byrnes matched a franchise mark with hits in seven consecutive at-bats going back to Tuesday night. It's been done three other times. The streak ended with a grounder to the pitcher in the eighth.
Tigers 8, Nationals 4
WASHINGTON -- The Tigers scored more than 10 runs per game in their first visit to RFK Stadium in 36 years. They wrapped up their three-game series by pounding the Washington Nationals pitching staff yet again, winning to give Jeremy Bonderman his eighth straight victory.
Detroit exploded for five runs in the sixth against Washington's bullpen. Carlos Guillen had two hits, including a fourth-inning golf-swing home run that bounced on the top of the left field wall. Guillen (6-for-12) was one of four Tigers to bat .500 or better in the series, and he and Ordonez each have eight-game hitting streaks.
The Tigers took the first game of the series 9-8 Monday and dismantled the Nationals 15-1 on Tuesday. The top-hitting club in the majors has won five of six, averaging nine runs over that span.
Bonderman (8-0) has won eight straight starts after beginning the year with five no decisions, and once again he got plenty of run support. He only pitched five innings -- matching his shortest outing of the season -- and allowed three runs and five hits. His ERA is 6.88 over his last three starts.
