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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- If Oakland manager Art Howe wanted to test
reliever Jeff Tam under fire, he could not have found a tougher situation.
Tam, a 29-year-old with limited experience until emerging as the
Athletics' primary set-up man, passed the test.
"That whole lineup can just crush the ball. They're all great
hitters," Tam said of the Los Angeles Dodgers, after turning them
back with an overpowering 1 2/3-inning relief effort to set up
Oakland's 3-1 victory.
Olmedo Saenz hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning as the Athletics ran their interleague record to 6-1.
But it was Tam (1-2) preserved the 1-1 tie that Saenz undid. He
took over for starter Tim Hudson with one out in the seventh and
runners on second and third.
Tam sneaked a third strike past Mark Grudzielanek -- who had
homered in the first for the Dodgers' only run -- and retired Gary Sheffield on a fly to the edge of the warning track in right-center.
"That was the whole game, right there. He shut them down from
the moment he came in," Howe said.
Tam has a 1.93 ERA in 29 appearances, having given his manager
many chances to make that statement.
"I love it every time I say it," said Howe, whose team
stretched its AL West lead to 1 1-2 games and its major league best
road record to 18-10.
Jason Giambi drew a two-out walk off Antonio Osuna (0-3) before
Saenz lined his fifth homer into the left-field pavilion.
Jason Isringhausen pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save in
18 chances.
Carlos Perez was cruising on a one-hitter until Giambi walked
with two outs, Saenz singled and Ben Grieve doubled into the
right-field corner for a 1-1 tie.
Grudzielanek's first-inning homer had given the Dodgers a 1-0
lead.
Perez held Oakland hitless until Miguel Tejada doubled sharply
into the left-field corner with two outs in the fifth. Before that,
Oakland's only runners had been Saenz -- who reached in both the
second and fourth innings on errors by third baseman Kevin Elster -- and Rudy Christensen, who walked leading off the game, then was
throw out attempting to steal second.
In his sharpest outing of the season, Perez allowed one run
three hits in seven innings, lowering his ERA to 5.16.
Perez has won four of his last five decisions, but has also
pitched to a no-decision six times.
"The last five, six games, I could've had a great record,"
Perez said. "But sometimes, things happen. I still believe in my
team."
Hudson struck out eight in 6 1/3 innings, giving up one run,
four hits and four walks.
"I've had solid stuff. Definitely, I've been giving the team a
chance to win," Hudson said. "The way Perez was throwing the
ball, I could've easily come away with a loss. I just tried to
match him."
Game notes
The Dodgers have signed 11 of their draft selections, the
highest among them seventh-round pick C Jared Price. Others include
Ps Shane Nance, Jonathan Lorenzen, Jason Olson, Casey Kennedy,
Steve Langone and Clifton Glidewell; OFs Ronte Langs and Nicholas
Alvarez; and INFs Adrian Mendoza and Zachary Leske. ... The
Dodgers' Orel Hershiser went four-plus innings Friday night in the
latest start of his self-imposed exile to Class-A San Bernardino,
allowing three runs and six hits against Mudville. Hershiser, who
made 76 pitches, is on standby if Perez is yanked from the
rotation. ... Grieve had been 2-for-23 in interleague play until
his game-tying double. ... Matt Stairs was 0-for-3 off Perez and is
6-for-55 against left-handers this season, the worst mark in the
AL. ... Sheffield made the final out in the third, fifth and
seventh innings, leaving two men stranded each time.
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