LOS ANEGLES: John Jaso yesterday belted a pinch-hit, three-run homer and Brandon Moss added a two-run shot later in the seventh inning as visiting Oakland overcame two defensive lapses to down Los Angeles 9-5 for their sixth straight victory.
Coco Crisp finished 2-for-5 and homered for a career-high fourth consecutive game.
Los Angeles trailed 4-2 entering the sixth, but plated three runs after Athletics right fielder Chris Young dropped Brendan Harris’ fly ball and later Albert Pujols reached on a fielding error from shortstop Jed Lowrie. But Oakland struck back when Crisp led off the seventh where Jaso hit a towering fly ball to right and Moss added his first homer of the season two batters later.
In another game, Adam LaRoche broke out of a slump with a pair of home runs and Ian Desmond and Jayson Werth also went deep as hosts Washington won 8-7 after a late push from Chicago in the opener of a three-game series.
Paul Konerko hit a three-run homer and finished with four RBIs for the White Sox, who had a two-game win streak snapped. Washington led 8-5 in the ninth where Rafael Soriano gave up a two-run blast to Alex Rios but still earned his third save.
Also yesterday, Nick Tepesch pitched into the eighth inning in his major-league debut and Lance Berkman had three hits as visiting Texas made it two straight wins over Tampa Bay with a 6-1 result.
The 24-year-old Tepesch, who earned the No. 5 spot in the rotation during spring training, allowed one run, four hits, walked three and struck out five in 7 1/3 innings.
Berkman and Elvis Andrus drove in two runs apiece for Texas, who have won three in a row and six of their last seven.
Robinson Cano led an 18-hit assault with a 4-for-6 effort and five RBIs as visiting New York cruised past Cleveland 14-1 for the second straight game. The outburst was more than enough for Andy Pettitte (2-0), who allowed five hits - including a solo homer to Asdrubal Cabrera - in seven innings.
Carlos Carrasco (0-1), making his first appearance since 2011 after injuries interrupted his six-game suspension for throwing at the head of Kansas City’s’ Billy Butler, was ejected yesterday after hitting Kevin Youkilis in the shoulder one pitch after Cano’s homer. REUTERS
