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Murphy's homer helps A's snap White Sox's seven-game win streak

Thu 3rd, July 2008

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Donnie Murphy hit the go-ahead home run in the fifth inning and Justin Duchscherer was impressive on the mound, as the Oakland Athletics edged the Chicago White Sox, 3-2, in the opener of a four- game set.

Duchscherer (9-5) tossed seven frames and yielded just two runs on five hits to pick up the win for the A's, who are 2-4 over their last six contests. Jack Cust accounted for the other two Oakland runs with a game-tying two-run homer in the fourth inning.

"It didn't start well for me, I left a few pitches up," Duchscherer said. "Then my teammates bailed me out, this was a team win."

Dewayne Wise belted a solo home run for the Sox, who saw their seven-game win streak come to an end. Jermaine Dye went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Javier Vazquez (7-7) was dealt the loss, despite throwing all nine innings and giving up just three runs on four hits and one walk, while fanning 10 batters.

"It was nice to go the distance, I have to do that once in a while," Vazquez said. "I felt good all game."

Murphy deposited a Vazquez offering over the fence in left-center in the fifth for a 3-2 Athletics advantage.

Huston Street came on in the ninth to close it out for the A's and got leadoff man Jim Thome to pop up for the first out. Joe Crede, though, finagled a single but came out as Pablo Ozuna was called on to pinch run. Nick Swisher was caught looking at the third strike for the second out and Alexei Ramirez went down swinging to end the game.

The White Sox got on the board in the first inning, as Wise led off with a home run. A.J. Pierzynski kept the rally going with a double and moved to third as Carlos Quentin flied out. Jermaine Dye followed with an RBI double, and it was 2-0 Sox.

Vazquez retired the first 11 batters he faced, seven of which were strikeouts.

Oakland knotted it up in the fourth inning. Kurt Suzuki was hit by a pitch with two outs and Cust made Chicago pay, as he belted an 0-1 slider over the fence in right to make it 2-2.

Game Notes

The 10 strikeouts serve as the 35th time that Vazquez has amassed double-digit Ks...Chicago had won nine in a row at U.S. Cellular Field prior to Thursday's setback. The club still has a stellar 30-12 record so far at home this season. The White Sox have won 18 of their last 21 home contests...Oakland has won in six of the last seven meetings with the White Sox, but is just 3-6 over its nine most recent games at U.S. Cellular Field.