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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- The Oakland Athletics were forced to
hurry out of town because of a hurricane. At least they were
leaving with a share of the AL wild-card lead.
Tim Hudson won his fourth straight start and the Athletics,
about to take off ahead of Hurricane Gordon, beat Tampa Bay 5-2
Saturday for their 10th victory in 13 games.
|  | | Jason Giambi, coming off a seven-RBI night, matched Jose Canseco's single-season Oakland record of 124 RBI with a run-scoring double in the fifth. |
The Athletics moved into a virtual tie for the wild card with
Cleveland, which lost 6-3 at New York.
"We realize this is what we have to do to have a chance,"
Oakland manager Art Howe said. "
In a precautionary move, Sunday afternoon's game between Oakland
and the Devil Rays was postponed because the hurricane was moving
into the area.
The Athletics left by charter flight right after the game for
their next series in Baltimore. The main impact of the storm was
supposed to hit by early Sunday.
If necessary, the Athletics-Devil Rays postponement was to be
made up Oct. 2, the day after the regular season was scheduled
to end.
Tampa Bay lost its season-high seventh in a row, a span in which
it's been outscored 61-12. Oakland has won five straight against
the Devil Rays, outscoring them 48-6.
"It's one of those things where you can look up and down the
lineup and nobody is hot," Tampa Bay's Steve Cox said. "It's a
battle every day."
Jason Giambi, who hit a grand slam and drove in seven runs
during a 17-3 romp Friday night, matched Jose Canseco's
single-season Oakland record of 124 RBI. Giambi hit a run-scoring
double in the fifth inning to tie Canseco's total set in 1988.
Hudson (17-6) gave up two runs and six hits over 6 2/3 innings.
"He's the go-to guy," Howe said. "He's just been
outstanding."
Hudson has given up just five runs over 32 1/3 innings in his
last four games. He became the first A's pitcher to win 17 games
since Mike Moore did it in 1992.
"We're starting to play pretty good baseball," Hudson said.
"It's a good time to start turning it on. We've got some guys
throwing the ball pretty well and some guys swinging the bats."
Jason Isringhausen pitched the ninth for his 28th save in 35
chances.
Paul Wilson (0-4) retired nine straight before Terrence Long
doubled to open Oakland's three-run, fourth inning. Ben Grieve
doubled home Long and Eric Chavez made it 3-0 with a two-run
single.
The Athletics chased Wilson in the fifth. Giambi doubled home a
run and Oakland DH Matt Stairs hit an RBI single off reliever Doug Creek.
"The last couple of times, he has tired," Tampa Bay manager
Larry Rothschild said of Wilson, who missed most of the past three
years with various injuries. "I don't know if it's that point of
the year with him. He said that he still feels good, but I felt it
was time to get him out. I just want to make sure he stays
healthy."
Giambi has 36 career RBI against Tampa Bay. He is 22-for-54
(.407) with five homers and 23 RBI at Tropicana Field.
Gerald Williams had a RBI double during a two-run seventh for
Tampa Bay. He became the seventh player in major league history -- and fifth in the American League - to have 20 homers and 80 RBI from the leadoff spot.
Game notes
The Oakland rookies found women's attire in their lockers
after the game. Stairs said he purchased 15 outfits -- including a
Jeannie costume, a wedding gown and a tutu -- for the baseball
ritual. ... Hudson has allowed two runs over 23 1/3 innings in
beating Tampa Bay three times. ... Wilson hasn't won a major league
game since Sept. 20, 1996.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Oakland Clubhouse
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
With Gordon moving in, Sunday's game in St. Pete postponed
RECAPS
Boston 8
Detroit 5
Detroit 12
Boston 2
(2nd game)
NY Yankees 6
Cleveland 3
Oakland 5
Tampa Bay 2
Seattle 14
Baltimore 0
Chi. White Sox 6
Toronto 3
Anaheim 7
Minnesota 6
Kansas City 8
Texas 5
Cincinnati 7
Milwaukee 3
St. Louis 7
Chicago Cubs 6
Atlanta 12
Arizona 10
NY Mets 10
Montreal 4
Florida 3
Philadelphia 2
Houston 10
Pittsburgh 9
San Francisco 4
San Diego 3
Los Angeles 5
Colorado 4
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