Lidle Has No Trouble Against Yankees, 8-0

Cory Lidle took his turn keeping the New York Yankees off the scoreboard.

Lidle pitched eight impressive innings, and Miguel Tejada and Eric Chavez homered to lead the visiting Oakland Athletics past New York, 8-0, Saturday.

“Yeah, he gave us some problems,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said of Lidle. “He changes speeds. He keeps the ball off the good part of the bat. I just thought we looked a little anxious out there.”

Oakland won for the eighth time in 10 games, handing the listless Yankees their first shutout at home since Sept. 25 of last season against Tampa Bay.

Lidle (5-9) lobbied to pitch the ninth after throwing 122 pitches, but Jeff Tam came on to finish, extending New York’s scoreless streak to 17 innings.

“We weren’t patient. You have to be patient with a pitcher like him,” Torre said.

With Friday night’s 3-2 loss in 16 innings, New York has dropped its first series since late June.

The Yankees won eight series and split four others since losing two of three games at Baltimore.

The only time Lidle got in real trouble was the fifth, but he retired Derek Jeter on a grounder with the bases loaded.

“He had that one jam with the bases loaded, he got out of that,” A’s Manager Art Howe said. “It was their only real shot at getting after him.”

Oakland remained tied with Boston in the wild-card race, half a game behind the Angels.

“It’s a big series for us because we’re in a pennant race,” Lidle said. “You just have to focus on Jeter there.”

Lidle gave up nine hits, struck out five and didn’t walk a batter. He hasn’t given up a run in 15 innings.

Lidle outpitched David Wells (12-6), who left after giving up three consecutive singles to start the seventh.

Seattle 7, Chicago 3--Bret Boone hit his 20th home run, breaking an eighth-inning tie and sending the Mariners over the White Sox at Chicago.

Boone was in an 0-for-10 slump before going deep with one out against reliever Rocky Biddle (1-3). Boone added an RBI grounder in a three-run ninth as the Mariners maintained their 3 1/2-game lead over the Angels in the AL West.

Jeff Nelson (3-2) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the victory.

Cleveland 4, Texas 3--Karim Garcia lined a game-winning single off the left-field wall with one out in the ninth inning to lead the Indians at Cleveland.

Garcia preserved a tie in the top half with a fine running catch on a two-out drive to right field by Alex Rodriguez with runners at the corners.

Bob Wickman (1-3) pitched the ninth for the victory. Ellis Burks hit a three-run homer for the Indians.

Baltimore 3, Detroit 2--Tony Batista hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning at Detroit as the Orioles rallied from two runs down to win.

Chris Singleton and Gary Matthews Jr. also had run-scoring singles in the three-run eighth as the Orioles won their eighth in 11 games.

Rodrigo Lopez (13-4) went seven innings and gave up two runs--one earned--and three hits for the win.

Tampa Bay 13, Kansas City 6--Jared Sandberg hit two of the Devil Rays’ club-record six home runs in a victory at Kansas City, Mo.

Carl Crawford and Andy Sheets each hit three-run homers, and Aubrey Huff and Steve Cox had solo shots.

The 13 runs were a season high for Tampa Bay. Every Devil Ray starter except Jason Conti had a hit and scored a run. Huff matched a career high with four hits.