Athletics Win Pitchers’ Duel

Dave Bush and Rich Harden seemed capable of trading scoreless innings forever.

But Damian Miller is a decade older and a good bit wiser than both young starting pitchers, and he doesn’t have that kind of time.

Miller broke up Bush’s no-hit bid in the eighth, then won the game with a bases-loaded single in the 14th inning of the Athletics’ 1-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday at Oakland.

Bush and Harden allowed one hit apiece through eight innings, but the game stretched on long after the duel between promising young right-handers. Instead, it was decided by Harden’s 34-year-old catcher, who punctuated his resurgent season with the game’s two biggest hits.

Jermaine Dye led off the 14th with a single off Justin Speier (2-6). After a sacrifice bunt and two walks, Miller singled to nearly the same spot as his eighth-inning single to left.

Bush gave up one hit and three walks while striking out six.

“For the most part, I was throwing strikes to both sides of the plate,” Bush said. “In the fourth or fifth inning, I started thinking about [a no-hitter]. I knew what was going on.”

Harden gave up two hits and three walks while striking out eight in 8 2/3 innings.

“I was in a pretty good rhythm,” Harden said. “I was able to make my pitches. It’s good to fare well against those guys.”

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New York 4, Tampa Bay 2 -- Gary Sheffield hit his 397th homer and drove in three runs, leading Jose Contreras (8-3) and the Yankees at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Derek Jeter left in the eighth after getting hit on his right hand by a pitch from Victor Zambrano two innings earlier. X-rays were negative. An MRI exam will be done today.

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Boston 9, Seattle 7 -- Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz hit consecutive home runs at Seattle to key the Red Sox’s eight-run fourth inning in a victory at Seattle. Derek Lowe (8-9) gave up four runs and nine hits in five innings and won for only the second time in six starts.

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Baltimore 12, Kansas City 3 -- Karim Garcia, acquired Monday from the New York Mets, had two home runs and five runs batted in and the Orioles tied a club record with 11 extra-base hits in a victory at Kansas City, Mo. The Orioles had five home runs and six doubles.

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Minnesota 5, Detroit 4 -- Jacque Jones homered and drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to lead the Twins at Detroit.

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Texas 6, Chicago 4 -- Rod Barajas broke a tie with a two-run double in the eighth inning to lead the Rangers and drop the visiting White Sox a half-game behind Minnesota in the AL Central race.