Harden Is Sharp for Athletics, 4-2

Rich Harden pitched eight innings of four-hit ball, and Eric Chavez homered in his first home game back from an injury, leading the Oakland Athletics to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.

Rookie Bobby Crosby had a run-scoring double for the A’s, who ended the White Sox’s four-game winning streak.

Harden (4-5) retired Chicago’s first 13 batters before Jose Valentin’s one-out single to right in the fifth. He gave up another single in the sixth, but thanks to two double plays, he faced the minimum 18 batters through six innings.

It was the first win in six starts since June 9 for Harden, who walked six batters and gave up seven runs in his previous start at Boston.

Octavio Dotel pitched the ninth for his third save in five chances.

Seattle 2, Cleveland 1 -- Justin Leone hit his first major league homer -- a two-run shot -- to back Joel Pineiro at Seattle and help the Mariners end a nine-game losing streak.

Earlier, the Mariners sent struggling first baseman John Olerud and backup catcher Pat Borders to the minors.

Kansas City 3, Minnesota 1 -- Mike Sweeney’s run-scoring single in the first inning at Kansas City, Mo., ended the Royals’ 31-inning drought against the Twins, who had outscored the Royals, 25-0, in a three-game sweep last week.

Before the game, the Twins activated outfielder Shannon Stewart and put first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore left wrist.

Baltimore 5, Tampa Bay 4 -- David Newhan hit a tiebreaking, two-run triple in the seventh inning to lead the Orioles at St. Petersburg, Fla. Newhan finished three for five with two runs batted in and Larry Bigbie homered for the Orioles.

New York 5, Detroit 1 -- Jose Contreras pitched into the ninth inning and Alex Rodriguez hit two of the Yankees’ five home runs in a victory at Detroit.