Athletics Pound Garcia, Mariners, 13-2

Eric Chavez and Greg Myers homered and streaking Oakland routed Seattle ace Freddy Garcia for 10 runs as the Athletics won their eighth consecutive game, 13-2, over the Mariners on Monday night at Seattle.

Miguel Tejada hit a three-run double and John Mabry had a two-run double as the A’s scored seven runs in the third inning. Oakland won for the 16th time in 17 games to move into second place and close within two games of the Mariners in the AL West.

Garcia (10-5) had won six consecutive starts since May 19 but struggled mightily against the A’s. Last year’s AL earned-run average champion gave up a career high in runs, nine hits and five walks in three innings, raising his ERA from 3.02 to 3.73.

The big third inning staked Cory Lidle (2-6) to a 10-0 lead after three innings. Lidle gave up two runs and eight hits in seven innings to win for the first time since April 26.

After Oakland knocked out Garcia, Chavez hit his 19th homer and Myers had a two-run shot in the fourth inning off Ryan Franklin to make it 13-1.

Oakland scored three runs in the first on RBI singles by David Justice and Chavez, and a bases-loaded walk to Terrence Long.

In the third, Mabry got things started for the A’s with his two-run double, which was followed by an RBI single by Long. Tejada added the bases-loaded double and Justice followed with a double to score Tejada.

Ichiro Suzuki went two for two with a pair of doubles before leaving after four innings. Suzuki leads the majors with a .369 average.

Minnesota 5, Chicago 4--Jacque Jones drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning after Torii Hunter tied it with a two-run homer an inning earlier, giving the Twins a victory over the White Sox at Minneapolis in the first meeting of the season between the teams.

Luis Rivas walked with two out against Bobby Howry (0-1), took second on a wild pitch and scored on a line drive to deep center by Jones, who was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple to end the inning.

LaTroy Hawkins (3-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win. Eddie Guardado pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his league-leading 22nd save in 24 chances.