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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, April 24, 2010

Suzuki homers in Oakland rout



Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Kurt Suzuki is congratulated by Ryan Sweeney after his two-run homer against Cleveland. Oakland won, 10-0.

BEN MARGOT | Associated Press

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OAKLAND, Calif. — Justin Duchscherer wasn't as crisp as he has been with some of his pitches. It didn't matter as his Oakland teammates turned five double plays.

Duchscherer and two Oakland relievers combined on a five-hitter, and Maui's Kurt Suzuki homered for the second consecutive day as the A's beat the Cleveland Indians, 10-0, last night.

"That's comforting for a pitcher when you know you can put the ball in play and the defense can play like that behind you," Duchscherer said.

Suzuki, whose three-run home run off Yankees ace CC Sabathia keyed Oakland's 4-2 win over New York on Thursday, hit a two-run shot off Cleveland's Jake Westbrook (0-2) in the sixth inning. Suzuki, a Baldwin High alum, also had two singles.

"I know I'm not a guy that's going to go out there and just mash homers all over the place," Suzuki said. "I'm more of a contact kind of guy and hit the gaps and occasionally run into one like I did tonight. I'm still learning how to hit, learning my swing."

ANGELS 6, YANKEES 4

Kendry Morales hit a tiebreaking two-run homer off Joba Chamberlain (0-1) in the eighth inning for host Los Angeles. Hideki Matsui led off the eighth with a single. Reggie Willits pinch ran before Morales drove a 1-1 pitch from Chamberlain to right field.

TWINS 8, ROYALS 3

Jim Thome homered and drove in three runs, and Carl Pavano (3-1) allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings to lead visiting Minnesota. Michael Cuddyer drove in two runs and J.J. Hardy homered for the Twins.

RED SOX 4, ORIOLES 3

Jim Johnson walked Adrian Beltre with the bases loaded to force in the tiebreaking run in the eighth and David Ortiz hit his first homer of the season, leading host Boston to its ninth straight win over Baltimore.

BLUE JAYS 6, RAYS 5

Brett Cecil pitched into the seventh inning in his first appearance of the season, Alex Gonzalez had two RBIs during a four-run first and visiting Toronto beat Tampa Bay. Cecil (1-0) gave up four runs and struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings.

RANGERS 5, TIGERS 4

Elvis Andrus drove in the winning run with a ninth-inning single to lift host Texas past Detroit. Vladimir Guerrero homered and reached base three times for Texas.

WHITE SOX 7, MARINERS 6

Andruw Jones hit a game-ending home run in the ninth inning and also homered in the first for host Chicago. With two outs in the ninth, Jones homered off Seattle's Mark Lowe (1-2) into the left-field bullpen.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ASTROS 4, PIRATES 3

Roy Oswalt moved into second place on the Astros' all-time strikeouts list in leading host Houston over Pittsburgh. Oswalt (2-2) allowed four hits, struck out four and didn't give up a run until the seventh. Oswalt struck out Delwyn Young in the seventh to move past J.R. Richard on the Astros' all-time list (1,494).

METS 5, BRAVES 2

Ike Davis hit a 450-foot shot for his first major league homer as host New York beat Atlanta. Atlanta's Nate McLouth nearly tied it in the ninth, but his bid for a tying, three-run homer off Francisco Rodriguez barely hooked foul.

PADRES 10, REDS 4

Adrian Gonzalez hit his second career grand slam, Kevin Correia (3-1) did not allow a hit into the sixth inning and visiting San Diego extended its winning streak to seven. Tony Gwynn Jr. added a two-run homer for San Diego.

NATIONALS 5, DODGERS 1

Rookie Luis Atilano pitched six strong innings in his major league debut and Adam Dunn homered twice for host Washington. Atilano allowed one run and five hits. He walked two and struck out one.

CUBS 8, BREWERS 1

Ryan Dempster beat Milwaukee for the fourth consecutive time, and Kosuke Fukudome and Tyler Colvin homered to lead visiting Chicago. Dempster (2-0) gave up one run on seven hits in 7 2/3 innings.

DIAMONDBACKS 7, PHILLIES 4

Mark Reynolds and Adam LaRoche hit consecutive homers during a five-run fourth inning to lead host Arizona. Maui's Shane Victorino was 2 for 5 with a triple and an RBI single for the Phillies.

GIANTS 4, CARDINALS 1

Tim Lincecum struck out eight to win his initial four starts for the first time in his career, and host San Francisco scored runs on a pair of errors and a wild pitch. Lincecum (4-0) allowed one run on six hits over seven innings.

NOTES

Dodgers: Los Angeles slugger Manny Ramirez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf. Ramirez, 37, was injured running out a single during Thursday's game at Cincinnati. The 12-time All-Star outfielder is hitting .415 with two homers and 12 RBIs.

Rays: Tampa Bay rewarded utility player Ben Zobrist with a $18 million, three-year contract extension that includes two club option years and could be worth $30 million.

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