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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Gil Heredia is a road warrior.
The Oakland right-hander pitched seven effective innings and Olmedo Saenz homered and drove in three runs as the Athletics beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 6-3 Thursday night.
"He pitched another gem for us," Oakland manager Art Howe
said.
Oakland, which improved to a major league-leading 14-8 on the
road, took two of three from Tampa Bay to open a nine-game road
trip.
Heredia (6-3), who gave up five hits, has won five of his past
six starts. He entered with a 1.03 ERA on the road, the
second-lowest in the AL.
"I don't know what it is," he said. "I think I've got time to
sleep in. I don't want to discourage my family, but it seems like
they keep busy at home."
During 33 1/3 innings away from the Coliseum, Heredia has
allowed four earned runs and 29 hits, winning all five of his
starts.
"He's pitched well at home actually," Howe said. "If you
haven't noticed, we don't play that well at home, so it's not his
fault."
The A's are the only major league team with a winning road
record and losing mark at home (10-16).
"I can't explain it," outfielder Ben Grieve said. "It's a
coincidence that we happen to be playing better on the road right
now. There's no reason for it, we just are."
Saenz, playing before his parents for the first time, hit a
second-inning solo homer and added a two-run triple during a
four-run fourth.
"That was a great feeling, hitting a home run in front of your
family and the team wins," Saenz said. "I was trying to have a
good game and I was having a lot of fun."
Jason Isringhausen got three outs for his ninth save.
Greg Vaughn went 3-for-4, including a two-run homer in the
eighth inning for Tampa Bay. The Devil Rays have dropped seven
straight series and are 2-9 in their past 11 games.
"Everyone should have a sense of urgency," Vaughn said. "If
you look in that other dugout, nobody is going to feel sorry for
you. It's a situation where we got to quit talking and we've got to
start doing as a unit."
Esteban Yan (2-2) gave up six runs and eight hits in 4 1/3
innings. It was the fourth straight game and 19th time this season
the Tampa Bay starter failed to go five innings.
"Tonight, I got my pitches up," Yan said. "You have to credit
the hitters. When you pitch up, that's what happens."
Saenz got his 11th start at first bare so Jason Giambi could
have a partial day off as the designated hitter. His third homer
put the Athletics up 1-0 in the second.
In the fourth, Saenz caught a break when Tampa Bay left fielder Quinton McCracken and center fielder Gerald Williams collided,
resulting in a triple.
Miguel Tejada hit an RBI single and Ramon Hernandez knocked in
run with a groundout as Oakland went up 5-0 after four innings.
Game notes
The Devil Rays released RHP Dwight Gooden and SS Kevin
Stocker. RHP Albie Lopez will replace Gooden in the rotation. Ozzie
Guillen and Felix Martinez, who was recalled from Triple-A Durham,
will share time at short. ... Tampa Bay also brought up LHP Doug
Creek from Durham. ... Heredia has won all three career starts
against Tampa Bay. ... McCracken made his first start since tearing
a ligament in right knee while attempting a leaping catch last May
24. ... Vaughn is 9-for-13 in his last four games at Tropicana
Field.
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