A’s Shut Down Diamondbacks, 5-1

Tim Hudson gave up eight hits, and Johnny Damon went four for five with two home runs and a double Saturday night as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-1.

Hudson lost his bid for his first shutout of the season when Jay Bell hit a two-out run-scoring double in the ninth. Hudson’s outstanding performance came on the heels of Mark Mulder’s one-hit, near-perfect masterpiece in Oakland’s 3-0 victory Friday night.

Miguel Tejada hit his 19th home run for the Athletics, who have won five of six to climb to .500 for the first time since June 14.

The Diamondbacks, who have scored two runs in their last 29 innings, have lost three in a row and four of five. Their lead in the National League West has dwindled to 3 1/2 games over the second-place Dodgers.

Hudson (9-5), who struck out six and didn’t walk a batter, has yielded only one run in 18 2/3 innings. He has two complete games this year and five in three major league seasons.

Danny Bautista, who had Arizona’s only hit Friday, singled twice off of Hudson. Chad Moeller also singled twice.