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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Eric Chavez snapped out of a batting
slump in a big way.
Chavez had three hits and drove in four runs, including the game
winner in the eighth inning, as the Oakland Athletics beat Toronto
5-4 Wednesday, completing a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays.
|  | | With a 3-for-4, four-RBI day, Eric Chavez officially has signed off on his slump. |
"I wasn't feeling too good lately, so I was happy just making
contact," said Chavez, who was 14-for-76 in his last 29 games
before Wednesday. "I had struck out four times in a row before
that home run."
Chavez, who had a three-run homer earlier, blooped a 1-1 pitch
that fell at the feet of the charging Jose Cruz in center field to
score Miguel Tejada, who had singled and was sacrificed to second
by Jeremy Giambi. Mike Guthrie (1-2) took the loss in his Blue Jays
debut.
"I thought when the ball was hit, we had a chance to catch
it," said Toronto manager Jim Fregosi.
Tony Batista tied the game for Toronto in the eighth inning with
his 32nd home run of the season, a two-run shot off Jim Mecir
(8-2), who was making his third appearance since being acquired in
a trade from Tampa Bay last Friday.
The homer tied Batista with teammate Carlos Delgado for the AL
lead. It also broke the Blue Jays record for most home runs by a third
baseman shared by Kelly Gruber (1990) and Ed Sprague ('96).
Jason Isringhausen recorded the final three outs for his 24th
save in 29 opportunities.
"I had a feeling (Chavez) was going to come through again and
he did in a big way," A's manager Art Howe said. "He's been
struggling lately, but he swung the bat well today."
Oakland (60-47) has now won five in a row, and has its best
record after 107 games since 1992, the last time the A's won their
division. Toronto has lost a season-high six in a row.
"You run into streaks like that." said Fregosi. "When we
pitch well, we don't hit well, and when we hit well, we don't pitch
well."
Oakland starter Mark Mulder allowed two runs on eight hits with
a walk and two strikeouts. He has just one win since June 25, a
span of seven starts.
Toronto starter Chris Carpenter continued to struggle. He failed
to pitch past the fourth inning for the third consecutive start and
is 0-3 with an 11.39 ERA in his last five appearances. Carpenter
lasted 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits with two
walks and three strikeouts. His last victory came July 6 in
Cleveland.
"I felt I threw the ball better than I have in the past and
that's something to build on, but I'm still making mistakes,"
Carpenter said. "They had a couple of bloop hits and then I hung a
changeup to Chavez. This hasn't been our time. Things haven't
worked out for us lately."
Alex Gonzalez gave Toronto a 1-0 lead in the first with his
eighth homer of the year. He hit the first pitch he saw from Mulder
into the left field bleachers.
Ben Grieve singled home Ramon Hernandez with the tying run in
the third.
Tejada and Giambi opened the fourth with singles ahead of
Chavez, who hit his 15th home run of the season on the first pitch
from Carpenter. The ball bounced off the facade of the second deck
in right field.
"He made a mistake. He laid a ball right in there and I was
pretty surprised," said Chavez. "At that point, I was just
looking to make contact."
Delgado drove in his 94th run of the season, third best in the
AL, with a double in the fifth. Jose Cruz was thrown out at the
plate by Terrence Long on the play to end the inning.
Game notes
Oakland 1B Jason Giambi recorded two unassisted double
plays, both off Darrin Fletcher line drives, tying the major-league
record. It's the 29th time in history and the first since June 21,
1997 by the Chicago White Sox's Dave Martinez. ... Tejada is 20-for-42
(.476) over his last 12 games. ... The Blue Jays have more wins on
Wednesday (11) than any other day of the week. ... Toronto RHP Joey
Hamilton, who has yet to pitch in the majors this season, was
scheduled to make his fourth rehab start Wednesday at Triple-A
Syracuse. ... The A's had their seven-game streak of starters
pitching at least seven innings snapped. It was their longest such
streak since July 12-18, 1990. ... Carpenter has not won at home
since June 9. ... Delgado reached base 9-of-13 plate appearances in
the series.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
Oakland Clubhouse
RECAPS
Kansas City 4
NY Yankees 1
Minnesota 10
Baltimore 6
Oakland 5
Toronto 4
Detroit 5
Anaheim 3
Cleveland 5
Tampa Bay 3
Texas 7
Chi. White Sox 2
Boston 5
Seattle 2
NY Mets 2
Cincinnati 1
Los Angeles 11
Pittsburgh 5
Milwaukee 6
San Francisco 4
Chicago Cubs 3
Colorado 2
Florida 5
Houston 4
St. Louis 10
Montreal 7
Arizona 2
Atlanta 0
San Diego 5
Philadelphia 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Eric Chavez and the A's have turned things around and are eyeing the AL West title.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
A's manager Art Howe is hoping the success continues on this roadtrip.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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