This Time, Hudson Gets the Decision

As well as Oakland’s starters have pitched the last week, it took a shutout from Tim Hudson for them to get any credit for it.

Hudson pitched an eight-hitter to end a major league record-tying run of seven consecutive no-decisions and the A’s beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-0, on Saturday at Oakland.

“It was like an automatic that we would break the record,” said Hudson, who had four no-decisions in his first 11 starts, including three leads blown by the bullpen.

“It’s good to put an end to that streak. It’s nice to go out and get a decision.”

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last team to go seven consecutive games without a decision from a starter was Baltimore last month.

Scott Hatteberg hit a three-run homer in the third inning against Pat Hentgen (2-5) and Bobby Crosby hit a solo shot in the fourth.

That proved to be more than enough for Hudson (6-2), who improved to 69-2 when getting at least four runs of support.

The starters pitched well during the stretch of no-decisions, posting a 1.84 earned-run average, but spotty relief and a lack of hitting hurt them.

Hudson made sure none of that mattered, pitching his seventh career shutout to earn only the second win from one of Oakland’s stellar starters in the last 13 games.

He walked one, struck out five and didn’t allow a runner to reach third base until the ninth inning.

Seattle 4, Chicago 2 -- Bret Boone ended a one-for-19 slump with a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the fifth inning and Ryan Franklin pitched seven strong innings to lead the Mariners at Seattle.

Boone hit his ninth homer of the season off former Angel Scott Schoeneweis after John Olerud walked with one out. The 438-foot drive landed in the second deck in left field.

Boone, who has driven in more than 100 runs in each of his last three seasons, is batting only .222.

Franklin (3-4), who won for the first time since May 7, yielded six hits and both runs.

Texas 8, New York 1 -- Juan Dominguez shut down the Yankees for his first major league victory, and former Angel Brad Fullmer homered and scored a career-high four runs at Yankee Stadium.

Mark Teixeira also homered and drove in three runs as the Rangers teed off on Jon Lieber (4-3), handing the Yankees only their second loss in 12 games. Fullmer homered leading off the second, then doubled, singled and walked to reach safely in his first four plate appearances. He drove in two runs.

Dominguez (1-1), called up from triple-A Oklahoma on May 29, pitched eight innings and gave up five hits, including Ruben Sierra’s fifth-inning home run.

Boston 8, Kansas City 4 -- David Ortiz, Mark Bellhorn and Kevin Youkilis hit two-run home runs at Kansas City, Mo., to help the Red Sox end a four-game losing streak.

Curt Schilling (7-3) gave up a 445-foot home run to Mike Sweeney on his ninth pitch of the game and then shut out the Royals until Benito Santiago’s sacrifice fly with one out in the seventh. He gave up three runs and six hits in seven innings.

Darrell May (2-8) gave up all three Boston homers, putting him into the league lead with 17 home runs allowed.

Detroit 6, Minnesota 0 -- Gary Knotts (3-1) pitched three-hit ball into the eighth inning and Craig Monroe drove in four runs to lead the Tigers at Minneapolis. The Twins have lost 11 of their last 16 games.