Hudson’s Shutout Sinks Mariners

Tim Hudson made a point to congratulate Barry Zito before Saturday’s game for the near no-hitter Zito threw Friday night.

Now, Hudson should hear some kind words back after the gem he pitched Saturday.

The Oakland right-hander pitched a four-hitter to win his seventh consecutive decision and the Athletics’ pitching staff was almost perfect for the second consecutive day, defeating the Seattle Mariners, 1-0.

Hudson (14-9) had to be good to beat soft-throwing left-hander Jamie Moyer, who did not allow an earned run in eight innings.

One day after Zito took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in a 5-0 victory, Hudson pitched his second career shutout and 11th career complete game. He is 11-3 in his last 22 starts. He struck out two, compared to Moyer’s seven.

Oakland remained tied for first in the AL West with the Angels, who beat Texas. The two teams lead the Mariners by nine games for the wild card.

Hudson stayed late Friday at the Coliseum until Zito’s no-hitter was broken up--several innings longer than he’d typically stick around the night before a start. He wasn’t going to miss it if Zito completed it.

“It was a lot of fun,” Hudson said. “It was a tough act to follow. We’re just going out there and trying to pitch and put up zeros and give the team a chance to win.”

The A’s scored an unearned run in the second, when John Olerud and Carlos Guillen committed successive errors. Scott Hatteberg drove in Terrence Long with a single to right.

After giving up the single to Hatteberg, Moyer retired 13 consecutive batters before Long singled in the seventh. Moyer (13-8) pitched a three-hitter in his 25th career complete game.

“Tim threw the ball well and I felt like I threw the ball well,” Moyer said. “The game turned on a mistake, a key play. I had a feeling this series would be that way. The A’s are playing with a lot of confidence right now, and rightfully so.”

Hudson retired the last 17 batters. Mike Cameron’s double in the second for Seattle was the lone extra-base hit of the game.

“That was a wasted effort by Jamie, because we couldn’t do anything for him,” Cameron said.

The A’s have recorded a major league-leading 19 shutouts. It marked the fifth time they have done it in back-to-back days this season, including the fourth since the All-Star break.

“It’s not surprising with the staff we have,” A’s Manager Art Howe said. “Maybe they’ll have a few more before it’s all over.”

The struggling Mariners, who look nothing like the club that won an AL-record 116 games last season, have lost six in a row. It’s their longest losing streak since they lost eight in a row Aug. 12-20, 2000. The Mariners were shut out in consecutive games for the first time since Sept. 21-22, 1992, at Kansas City.