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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Kevin Appier got out of his slump by
slightly changing his windup. Run support didn't hurt, either.
"It certainly helped," Appier said after the Oakland Athletics
routed the Boston Red Sox 12-1 Saturday night, laughing at the
understatement.
|  | | A's pitcher Kevin Appier scattered four hits over seven innings as Oakland routed the Red Sox 12-1. |
Appier avoided the longest losing streak of his career by
scattering four hits over seven innings.
Adam Piatt went 2-for-3, with an RBI single in the first and a
three-run homer in the third. Miguel Tejada was 2-for-5 and drove
in three runs.
Oakland led 4-0 with the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth
inning when Terrence Long's grounder down the first-base line was
picked up by Jose Offerman, who overthrew catcher Scott Hatteberg
as two runs scored.
Boston starter Jeff Fassero (7-4) was replaced by Bryce Florie,
who gave up Tejada's two-run double. An out later, pinch-hitter
Eric Chavez hit an RBI double, then scored on Ryan Christenson's double. Christenson scored on Randy Velarde's single to make it 11-0.
Fassero allowed eight runs -- seven earned -- and six hits in
four-plus innings. He walked five and struck out seven. Still one
win away from 100 for his career, Fassero has failed to pitch at
least five innings in five of his last six starts.
"I can't complain about groundballs," Fassero said. "I'm a
groundball pitcher. It's just they got the balls in the holes tonight."
With the A's up 1-0 in the third inning, Fassero walked Jason
Giambi and Olmedo Saenz. Piatt, recalled from Triple-A Sacramento
on July 13 for his second stint in Oakland, hit his third homer.
Appier (9-8) was 0-5 in six previous starts, matching the
longest losing streak of his career. The last A's pitcher to lose
more than five straight was Tom Candiotti, who lost six in 1998.
"It's been extremely difficult," Appier said. "I've been
close. Tonight stuff seemed to be all in place. Things were really
good."
Appier said he tweaked his windup so that he stays back longer.
The big test for his new form came against Nomar Garciaparra, who
entered the game batting .398. Garciaparra went 0-for-3 against Appier, falling to .394. "No matter how many times you get him out, you feel fortunate to get him out the next time," Appier said.
Oakland went ahead in the first on Piatt's RBI bouncer to left field. The Red Sox avoided the shutout with Bernard Gilkey's RBI
grounder in the eighth inning off Doug Jones. Tejada added an RBI single in the bottom half.
Game notes
Red Sox INF Sean Berry, who was designated for assignment,
cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Pawtucket.... 2B
Mike Lansing, acquired in a seven-player deal with Colorado on
Thursday, went 0-for-4 for Boston. ... Setup man Jim Mecir, who the
A's acquired Friday in a trade with Tampa Bay, was set to arrive in
Oakland on Saturday. There was no sign of him before the game,
however. ... To make room for Mecir on the roster, the A's optioned
RHP Ariel Prieto to Triple-A Sacramento, as was LHP Todd Belitz,
also acquired in the Tampa Bay trade. ... Massachusetts state
lawmakers gave initial approval Saturday to a financing plan for a
$664 million, 44,000-seat stadium for the Red Sox, to be built
adjacent to Fenway Park.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Boston Clubhouse
Oakland Clubhouse
RECAPS
Cleveland 14
Baltimore 3
Baltimore 4
Cleveland 0
(2nd game)
Seattle 6
Toronto 5
Anaheim 6
Chi. White Sox 5
Minnesota 6
NY Yankees 2
Tampa Bay 2
Kansas City 1
Detroit 10
Texas 2
Oakland 12
Boston 1
Atlanta 13
Houston 5
NY Mets 4
St. Louis 3
Chicago Cubs 8
San Francisco 1
Florida 4
Arizona 2
Cincinnati 4
Montreal 3
Philadelphia 3
Los Angeles 0
Pittsburgh 10
San Diego 2
Colorado 10
Milwaukee 2
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