Rookie Harang Does His Job for Athletics

For a rookie who started the season in double A, Aaron Harang is remarkably composed.

“I’m a relaxed guy, you know,” he said. “I don’t show my emotions a whole lot.”

Harang refused to get rattled for his third start Saturday, even when facing Jeff Bagwell with the bases loaded, and got the win as the Oakland Athletics beat the Houston Astros, 5-1, at Oakland.

Harang (2-1) gave up six hits in 6 1/3 scoreless innings, lowering his earned-run average to 0.93. He walked four and struck out two.

Called up from triple-A Sacramento on May 25, Harang has given up only three runs--two earned--in his first three starts. He struck out Bagwell swinging with the bases loaded to end the third with the game scoreless.

Miguel Tejada homered as the resurgent A’s have won seven of nine games, improving their record to 31-30. They had not been above .500 since May 8, when they were 17-16.

Toronto 3, Colorado 1--The Blue Jays have won eight of nine games and improved to 5-1 under Manager Carlos Tosca. Vernon Wells and Carlos Delgado homered in the seventh inning at SkyDome and Pete Walker (2-0) and relievers Cliff Politte and Kelvim Escobar combined on a four-hitter.

Minnesota 5, Florida 3--Jacque Jones and Torii Hunter each drove in two runs at Minneapolis to lead the Twins, who are a major league-best 23-10 at home. The Marlins began the weekend with the best interleague record, 51-33, over the last five years but lost the first two.

Atlanta 6, Texas 3--Andruw Jones hit his second home run of the game in the 10th inning at Arlington, Texas, a three-run shot off Hideki Irabu. It was the seventh homer Irabu (2-6) has given up in four outings. He is 1-4 in his last five appearances and has converted only one save during that span.

Tampa Bay 3, San Diego 2--Steve Cox singled home Randy Winn with the winning run in the 10th inning at St. Petersburg, Fla. Ron Gant homered off starter Tanyon Sturtze in the top of the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings.

Montreal 2, Chicago White Sox 1--Vladimir Guerrero hit a go-ahead homer leading off the top of the ninth inning, handing the White Sox their 11th loss in 13 games.

St. Louis 11, Kansas City 3--Albert Pujols, Miguel Cairo and Eli Marrero each hit three-run homers at Kansas City, Mo., as the Cardinals improved to 8-9 against the Royals.

Philadelphia 2, Detroit 1--Travis Lee’s run-scoring single in the eighth inning gave the Phillies the victory at Detroit. Danny Patterson (0-2) gave up a one-out triple to Bobby Abreu. Pat Burrell tied the score with a bloop single over a drawn-in infield. After Jeremy Giambi walked, Lee drove him in with two out.