Zito’s Hot Streak Continues for A’s

With six consecutive victories, Barry Zito says he’s only warming up.

Zito overcame a first-pitch home run by Ichiro Suzuki and the Oakland Athletics went on to defeat the Seattle Mariners, 10-4, Thursday at Oakland.

“I don’t really feel locked in, per se, like I was last season. I’m still trying to get a feel for the season,” he said. “Once you get 120-130 innings in, that’s when things start clicking for me.”

Zito, who has a 13-game regular-season winning streak at the Coliseum, went 11-1 in his last 13 starts last season, ending with a nine-game winning streak.

On Thursday, Zito (7-2) gave up three runs and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings with one strikeout.

Miguel Tejada homered and drove in four runs and Eric Chavez drove in three as Oakland split the four-game series. The Athletics have won 10 of their last 15 games.

Boston 4, Detroit 3--Rolando Arrojo pitched seven shutout innings and the Red Sox finished a successful road trip with a victory at Detroit.

The AL East-leading Red Sox went 8-2 on their swing to Toronto, New York and Detroit.

Nomar Garciaparra had three hits as the Red Sox sent the Tigers to their third consecutive loss and seventh in eight games.

Kansas City 4, Chicago 3--Darrell May earned his first major league victory in nearly five seasons, helping the Royals win at Chicago.

May’s last win came on Aug. 31, 1997, when he was pitching for the Angels. He spent the last four seasons in Japan and began this year on the disabled list because of a strained left groin.

Toronto 5, Tampa Bay 4--Pinch-hitter Eric Hinske hit an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Blue Jays won at Toronto.

Travis Harper (2-3), who relieved in the seventh after Tampa Bay starter Joe Kennedy was ejected for throwing behind Ken Huckaby, walked Chris Woodward and Vernon Wells to start the Toronto ninth.

Minnesota 8, Cleveland 3--Torii Hunter hit a three-run homer in a five-run fifth inning to help the Twins defeat Bartolo Colon and the Indians at Minneapolis.

Baltimore at New York, ppd.--Because of heavy rain in the forecast, the Oriole-Yankee game was postponed. No makeup date was announced.