Moyer Regains Form, Throws Three-Hitter

Jamie Moyer pitched a three-hitter and Alex Rodriguez and Glenallen Hill homered as the Seattle Mariners defeated the Oakland Athletics, 5-0, Friday night.

Moyer (4-6), who had given up seven runs in each of his last two starts, struck out five and walked none in pitching his fifth career shutout and second this season.

On May 2, he blanked Detroit, also on a three-hitter.

Moyer did not allow a runner past second and the only hits were doubles by Miguel Tejada and Ben Grieve and a single by Matt Stairs.

The Mariners beat an AL West team for the first time in seven tries. It was only Seattle’s third win in the last 12 games.

Tom Candiotti (4-8) lost his fourth consecutive start, giving up five runs and nine hits in six innings.

Candiotti, who walked one and struck out five, has an ERA of 10.67 during the losing streak but he has received little support much of the season.

Oakland has scored only nine runs while he was pitching in his eight losses.

The A’s also were charged with four errors, though none led to any unearned runs.

Seattle got to Candiotti for two runs in the first inning. He walked Ken Griffey Jr. and David Segui followed with a run-scoring double and Edgar Martinez hit an RBI single.

Hill hit his 11th homer to lead off the fourth, putting Seattle up, 3-0.

It was Hill’s fifth homer in 32 at-bats against the knuckleballing Candiotti, against whom Hill has a lifetime .406 average.

Rodriguez also connected off Candiotti leading off the seventh for his 23rd of the season as Seattle increased its major league-leading homer total to 107.