Scutaro’s walk-off homer beats Rivera

With one stunning swing against Mariano Rivera, Marco Scutaro gave the Oakland Athletics their first series victory of the season.

Scutaro hit a three-run home run with two out in the ninth inning, rallying the A’s to a 5-4 victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday.

“I don’t know about this one,” Scutaro said. “I can’t believe it still, against Mariano. I was just praying the ball didn’t go foul. You don’t get that against him, you don’t get many pitches to hit. The way I’m feeling at the plate right now, the last thing I thought I was going to do is hit a home run.”

The backup infielder drove an 0-and-2 pitch from Rivera (1-1) off the screen just inside the left-field foul pole for the eighth game-ending hit of his career and second game-winning homer.

“I wanted to go inside,” Rivera said. “It was in and over the plate.”

It was the fourth game-ending homer against Rivera, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The three others came in July -- in 2002, 2004 and 2006.

“I was shocked,” Yankees Manager Joe Torre said.

Rivera, who blew his first save chance of the season, got two quick outs in the ninth before Todd Walker singled for Oakland’s first hit since the third inning. Jason Kendall then walked, bringing up Scutaro.

Oakland took two of three from the Yankees after going winless in its first three series. The first two games went to extra innings, taxing both bullpens.

Andy Pettitte overcame a rough start to pitch seven solid innings. He outlasted Oakland right-hander Rich Harden, who left with tightness in his pitching shoulder after yielding Alex Rodriguez’s leadoff double in New York’s three-run seventh.

Seeing Harden hurt is a real scare for the defending AL West champions. He was limited to nine starts last season, when he spent two stints on the disabled list. He also was on the DL twice in 2005.

The A’s will re-evaluate their No. 1 starter during today’s off day, though Harden doesn’t think the injury will keep him out.

“It’s not too serious,” he said. “I’m not concerned.”

The last time the A’s were winless in their first four series of the year was 2001.