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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BOSTON (AP) -- The Oakland Athletics got an unlikely boost in
their playoff chase from a struggling rookie pitcher.
Mark Mulder, who began the game with opponents hitting an
AL-high .318 against him, allowed just two runs and five hits in
six innings as the A's beat the Boston Red Sox 6-4 Wednesday night.
|  | | A's rookie Mark Mulder didn't pitch like someone who was 2-8 in his past 11 starts. |
"I was really pumped up for the game. I was excited," he said
after Oakland moved 1½ games behind AL West leader Seattle, which
lost to Toronto 7-3, and stayed three behind Cleveland in the
wild-card race. "Our goal is to win the division, not to win the
wild card."
A three-run third inning and Matt Stairs' solo homer in the
fourth gave Mulder (8-10) a 4-0 lead. He was 2-8 in his previous 11
starts, but the only runs he gave up Wednesday were on homers in
the fourth by Dante Bichette, his first since being traded by
Colorado on Aug. 31, and in the sixth by Jose Offerman, his sixth
of the season, making the score 4-2.
"He did a nice job, battled and gave us all he could," Oakland
manager Art Howe said. "The bullpen did the rest."
The Red Sox scored two runs in the eighth, but that's all they
got against four relievers as Jim Mecir pitched two innings for his
fifth save in 11 chances. Boston nearly tied the score 4-4 in the
seventh, but center fielder Terrence Long robbed Jason Varitek of a
two-run homer by reaching over the fence in front of Boston's
bullpen.
"I had a pretty good read on the ball and didn't give up,"
Long said. "When it left the bat, I thought it was gone. The wind
knocked it down."
That catch was critical in Boston falling three games off the
wild-card lead and remaining six behind the New York Yankees in the
AL East.
Bichette, obtained to give Boston some punch in the stretch
drive, said, "it was a thrill to get (the homer) and it'll relax
me, hopefully, a little more."
Like Mulder, Boston starter Rolando Arrojo (4-2) reversed his
recent performances. He was 4-0 in his previous five starts but
lasted three innings, his shortest outing in eight starts since
being traded by Colorado on July 27.
"He just got hit," Boston manager Jimy Williams said. "It
happens to all pitchers. They're a good hitting team over there."
Rheal Cormier and Tim Wakefield combined for four hitless
innings before Rod Beck allowed a run in the eighth and Derek Lowe
gave up one in the ninth.
"We played the game right," Varitek said. "We could just as
well have folded."
Arrojo got out of the first without allowing a run despite
giving up two singles. In the second, he allowed three runs on four
hits. Singles by Adam Piatt and Sal Fasano put runners at first and
third with two outs. Long then singled in one run and Randy Velarde
doubled in two. Stairs hit his 20th homer in the fourth.
Piatt's RBI single gave Oakland a 5-2 lead in the eighth before
Boston scored twice in the bottom of the inning on Bichette's
run-scoring single and Troy O'Leary's grounder. But Doug Jones
struck out Varitek, ending the rally, and Stairs hit a sacrifice
fly in the ninth.
But Mulder played the biggest role.
"It was huge having a rookie come out there and pitch like he
did," Stairs said. "The kid never hangs his head."
`
Game notes
The Red Sox recalled RHP Rick Croushore from Triple-A
Pawtucket. ... The A's have 11 homers in the last five games. ...
Mulder entered the game as one of the AL's worst starters, ranking
first in most hits and runners allowed per nine innings. His road
ERA was 7.18, second worst in the AL. ... Boston relievers retired
13 of the first 14 batters they faced. ... Stairs reached the
20-homer mark for his fourth straight season. ... Offerman's homer
was his first at Fenway Park since Aug. 14 last year.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Oakland Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
D-Ray Williams suspended 5 games for charging Pedro
RECAPS
Minnesota 4
Baltimore 1
Oakland 6
Boston 4
Cleveland 6
Tampa Bay 2
Anaheim 1
Detroit 0
Toronto 7
Seattle 3
Chi. White Sox 13
Texas 1
Kansas City 3
NY Yankees 2
Cincinnati 11
NY Mets 8
Chicago Cubs 8
Colorado 5
Atlanta 7
Arizona 1
Houston 13
Florida 5
Montreal 7
St. Louis 2
Pittsburgh 8
Los Angeles 3
San Diego 7
Milwaukee 6
San Francisco 5
Philadelphia 4
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Oakland's Terrence Long comments on his crucial catch in the seventh, and the wild-card race.
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