Orioles Hang On and Beat A’s

Miguel Tejada forgot how many outs there were in one inning, and closer Chris Ray committed a throwing error in the ninth. Both players overcame their miscues to help Baltimore get a road win.

Tejada and Chris Gomez drove in two runs apiece and Ray limited the damage to lead the Orioles over Oakland, 6-5, Saturday, ending the Athletics’ 10-game home winning streak.

After Frank Thomas -- who hit a three-run homer in the sixth -- lined out to left in the eighth, Tejada began jogging off the field. At least six other Orioles joined him, many getting to the foul line before realizing there were only two out.

“I would say that was a group vapor lock,” Orioles Manager Sam Perlozzo said. “I just slid my hat down over my face. I’ve never seen that many people run off the field at once.”

Mark Ellis led off the ninth by grounding back to Ray, who promptly threw the ball away at first, allowing Ellis to reach second.

“I was mad for the moment, but I realized that run didn’t really matter and I wanted to concentrate on the next three hitters,” Ray said.

Ellis moved to third on a groundout and scored on pinch-hitter Dan Johnson’s sacrifice fly. Jason Kendall singled to center, but Ray struck out Nick Swisher for his 31st save in 34 chances.

Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis also drove in runs for the Orioles. Adam Loewen improved to 3-0 in his last four starts.

Thomas hit his 30th homer of the season, but the A’s lost for the first time at home since Aug. 8. They have still won 10 of 13 overall and are 25-7 since taking over first place in the AL West on July 29.

“When you have some firepower in the lineup, one swing of the bat can get you back in the game,” A’s Manager Ken Macha said. “That’s what Frank did. He’s been impressive. He’s meant a lot to our club. He’s probably our MVP.”

Loewen (5-4) took a one-hit shutout into the sixth. He wound up giving up two hits and three runs in five-plus innings. He struck out seven and walked four.

Dan Haren (12-11) lost his second straight start after winning his previous six. He matched his season low with five innings, giving up five runs and six hits. He struck out three and walked one.

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ROUNDUP

Toronto 5, at Boston 1: A.J. Burnett pitched a three-hitter and Frank Catalanotto had a run-scoring double to lift the Blue Jays. Toronto ended a five-game losing streak, and the Red Sox lost for the 13th time in 17 games. Burnett (7-6) held the Red Sox to one single until giving up a run and two hits in the seventh inning. It was the 16th complete game of his career. Boston starter Kevin Jarvis (0-1), acquired Thursday from Arizona for a player to be named, gave up three runs -- two earned -- and seven hits in five innings in his Red Sox debut. He pitched for Jon Lester, who was diagnosed with a form of lymphoma on Friday. Back pain sent the 22-year-old Lester to the disabled list Monday, and tests discovered enlarged lymph nodes.

Cleveland 6, at Texas 5: Kevin Kouzmanoff, subbing for injured slugger Travis Hafner, hit a grand slam on the first major league pitch he faced, and the Indians stretched their winning streak to five games. With Hafner out because of a bruised right hand, Kouzmanoff made a smashing major league debut as a designated hitter a few hours after he was called up from triple-A Buffalo. Kouzmanoff became the third player in major league history with a grand slam in his first at-bat.

Chicago 5, at Kansas City 3: Mark Buehrle pitched six solid innings, and Joe Crede drove in two runs for the White Sox. Buehrle improved to 3-1 in his last four starts after going 0-6 with two no-decisions in his previous eight outings. In his six-game skid over eight starts, he had an 8.93 earned-run average. In his last four starts, Buehrle has a 3.65 ERA. Crede extended his hitting streak to 10 games, which matches his season high, with a two-out, two-run single in the third.

Minnesota 6, at New York 1: Justin Morneau hit a three-run homer, Torii Hunter also connected and the Twins won a game called during the eighth inning because of rain. Scott Baker (4-7) shut down New York for the second time this season, pitching the Twins to only their second victory in their last 14 games at Yankee Stadium. Minnesota, which trails Chicago by half a game in the AL wild-card race, had lost four of five.

Seattle 4, at Tampa Bay 3: Cha Seung Baek gave up one run over 6 2/3 innings as the Mariners overcame a triple play to stop a 12-game road losing streak. Baek (2-0) gave up six hits and one walk, and had four strikeouts. J.J. Putz pitched two innings to earn his 29th save. The Mariners’ record for consecutive road losses is 15, set June 22-July 28, 2004. The first-inning triple play was the first at Tropicana Field and the second turned in Devil Rays history. Seattle has been on the wrong side of a triple play nine times in team history, including twice this season. Delmon Young hit a home run for Tampa Bay, his second of the season.