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GAME LOG
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Randy Velarde found a memorable way to
reach a milestone.
Velarde's game-winning, 10th-inning homer off Toronto closer
Billy Koch was the 1,000th hit of his career and led the Oakland
Athletics to a 3-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Tuesday.
|  | | There were two twists to Randy Velarde's homer: It gave the A's a 3-1 win over the Blue Jays, and it was his 1,000th career hit. |
"To be sitting on 999, and then the 1,000th hit is a home run,
that's really special," said Velarde, who had three hits as Oakland won its fourth straight game.
Koch (5-2) knew it was a mistake the moment he let go of the
ball.
"I said 'Oh Geez, please don't swing.' I knew it would be belt
high," he said. "I might as well have walked up to the plate and put
it on the tee for him."
Jason Isringhausen (5-3) struck out the side in the 10th for the
victory.
The Blue Jays have lost a season-high five straight games.
Esteban Loaiza and Oakland rookie Barry Zito were locked in a
pitcher's duel until Zito was replaced by Jeff Tam in the eighth.
Loaiza, making his third start for the Blue Jays since being
acquired in a trade with Texas on July 19, allowed five hits and
three walks, striking out eight in eight innings.
Zito, making just his third career start, allowed four hits in
seven innings with two walks and three strikeouts.
"It was such great pitching from everybody today," A's manager
Art Howe said. "We just kept hanging in there against Loaiza until
Randy came up with the big home run."
It was the second straight pitchers' duel between the two teams.
In a battle of All-Stars on Monday night, Tim Hudson outdueled
David Wells, with both pitching complete games.
"Loaiza was on his game," Zito said. "I knew I had to keep
them to zero or one run. So far, it's been nothing but great for
me."
Loaiza and Zito each allowed just a single hit through five
innings.
"I was hitting my spots and everything was going great,"
Loaiza said. "Sometimes you get out of it with one pitch and
sometimes you don't."
The Blue Jays finally broke through in the sixth when Shannon
Stewart singled with one out, stole second and scored when Tony
Batista broke an 0-for-27 slump with a sharp single to left field.
It was Batista's first RBI since last Friday in Seattle, and his
career-high 84th of the season.
"It's been a little bit of a struggle, but that happens,"
Batista said. "Right now we're not getting the base hits at the
right moments."
Until Stewart scored, neither team had a runner get past second
base.
The A's had runners on first and second with two outs in the
sixth, the first time Oakland had more than one runner on base in
an inning. Loaiza then caught Ben Grieve looking at a called third
strike.
Jeremy Giambi broke an 0-for-19 slump when he singled home Matt
Stairs with the tying run in the seventh. Loaiza escaped further
damage when he struck out Eric Chavez and got pinch-hitter Adam
Piatt to ground into a double play.
Game notes
Toronto 2B Homer Bush was placed on the DL with a
nondisplaced hairline fracture on the back of his left hand. ...
Oakland 3B Olmedo Saenz was placed on the DL with a strained left
hamstring. ... 2B Jose Ortiz was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento
of the PCL to replace Saenz. ... Blue Jays RHP Mark Guthrie,
acquired Monday from Tampa Bay, was tending to his father, who is
ill, and is expected to join the team Wednesday. ... Batista
went 3-for-5. ... Loaiza has allowed two runs and has
14 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings (1.17 ERA) at the Oakland Coliseum
in two games this season.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
Oakland Clubhouse
RECAPS
Oakland 3
Toronto 1
NY Yankees 5
Kansas City 4
Tampa Bay 6
Cleveland 5
Baltimore 10
Minnesota 0
Chi. White Sox 4
Texas 3
Detroit 6
Anaheim 3
Seattle 5
Boston 4
Colorado 2
Chicago Cubs 1
Pittsburgh 6
Los Angeles 0
Los Angeles 5
Pittsburgh 3
(2nd game)
Houston 4
Florida 3
Montreal 4
St. Louis 0
NY Mets 3
Cincinnati 2
San Francisco 13
Milwaukee 8
Atlanta 4
Arizona 2
San Diego 10
Philadelphia 9
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Randy Velarde hits a game-winning homer for his 1000th career hit.
wav: 134 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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