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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Held to four singles in the first game, the
Oakland Athletics turned on the power against the Baltimore
Orioles' most effective starter.
Oakland hit three solo home runs to back right-hander Gil
Heredia as the Athletics recorded a 4-0 victory Wednesday night to
earn a doubleheader split.
|  | | For the first time in his career, Chuck McElroy was ready to pitch at the conclusion of the national anthem. |
In the day game, Brook Fordyce hit a two-run homer and Chuck
McElroy pitched five strong innings in his record-breaking first
career start as the Orioles won 2-0, ending a five-game losing
streak.
The split kept the A's in neutral in their drive to make the
playoffs for the first time since 1992. Oakland began the day 2½
games behind Seattle in the AL West but a half-game ahead of
Cleveland in the wild-card race.
"This time of the season, it's always tough to lose," Oakland
outfielder Terrence Long said. "But I know we're going to find a
way to get it done."
Eric Chavez homered off Jose Mercedes (12-7) in the second
inning of the nightcap, his 25th of the season and third in four
games, to make it 1-0. Miguel Tejada hit an RBI single in the
third, and Oakland went up 3-0 in the fourth on a solo shot by
Jeremy Giambi.
Matt Stairs hit his 21st home run in the fifth off Mercedes, who
is tied with New York's Andy Pettitte for most wins in the AL since
the All-Star break (nine).
"The long ball killed us today. They paid us back," Mercedes
said. "We won 2-0 and they came back and did the same thing to
us."
Heredia (15-11) allowed seven hits in 7 2/3 innings, striking
out six and walking none. He was 1-4 in his last eight starts since
July 30.
The first game was a makeup of Tuesday's nightcap, which was
postponed by the commissioner's office because the rain-delayed
first game ended at 10:36 p.m. The A's protested the postponement,
to no avail.
Playing in front a crowd of approximately 2,000 fans (the
announced attendance was 32,539), the A's got only one runner as
far as third base.
"This was a morgue," Oakland manager Art Howe said of the
setting. "It was an embarrassment for Major League Baseball, but
not an excuse for us. You've got to motivate yourself."
The loss ended the A's four-game winning streak, but Oakland
went 5-1 on their swing through Tampa Bay and Baltimore.
"I don't know what else you could ask for," Howe said. "The guys
have been playing great ball."
Now comes a huge four-game series at Seattle, beginning Thursday
night.
"If we win the series, no matter what we'll be in great
shape," Howe said.
McElroy (2-0) made 603 appearances in relief before getting the
call by Baltimore manager Mike Hargrove, whose team was playing its
second doubleheader in nine days. McElroy set a major league record
for most games pitched before his first start, breaking the mark of
552 by Mike Stanton.
McElroy did more than just show up. The left-hander allowed only
three singles and a walk, striking out two in the longest stint of
his career.
"All I was trying to do was keep us in the game," McElroy
said. "I went into the start with the same mindset as I do in
relief. I looked at it as just another outing, and I went out and
had fun."
Ryan Kohlmeier, the fifth Baltimore pitcher, struck out the side
in the ninth for his 11th save in as many chances.
The Orioles failed to get a hit off Barry Zito (5-4) until the
fourth inning. After Delino DeShields drew a leadoff walk, Fordyce
hit his 13th homer, a drive to left that barely cleared the wall.
Zito allowed four hits and four walks in 7 2/3 innings. The A's
have scored 56 runs in his five wins and only two runs in his four
losses.
Game notes
Luis Rivera, obtained in the trade that sent B.J. Surhoff
to Atlanta, got two outs in the opener. He was the 50th player used
by the Orioles this season, four short of the team record. ...
Oakland's six-game winning streak against Baltimore ended. ...
Jason Giambi set a single-season A's club record with his 119th
walk in the nightcap.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Oakland Clubhouse
Baltimore Clubhouse
RECAPS
Baltimore 2
Oakland 0
Oakland 4
Baltimore 0
(2nd game)
Cleveland 2
Boston 1
Cleveland 5
Boston 4
(2nd game)
Chi. White Sox 13
Detroit 6
Toronto 7
NY Yankees 2
Seattle 5
Tampa Bay 4
Anaheim 7
Kansas City 4
Texas 6
Minnesota 4
Montreal 4
Florida 2
Pittsburgh 7
Philadelphia 6
NY Mets 6
Atlanta 3
Milwaukee 3
Chicago Cubs 2
St. Louis 11
Houston 6
San Diego 15
Colorado 11
Los Angeles 1
Arizona 0
San Francisco 4
Cincinnati 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Matt Stairs talks about remaining focused down the stretch.
wav: 117 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Jason Giambi wants to take the A's momentum into their series with Seattle.
wav: 129 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Art Howe says the A's loss in the first game was nothing more than good pitching by Baltimore.
wav: 80 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Barry Zito takes his cap off to the Orioles pitching staff.
wav: 87 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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