Eric Sogard and Coco Crisp each added an RBI single in a
three-run second inning for the Athletics, who moved back into the
top American League wild-card spot ahead of Kansas City while
remaining one game ahead of third-place Seattle. Lester (16-10)
allowed one run on five hits and a pair of walks to improve to 6-3
in 10 starts since joining the team.
David Buchanan (6-8) was reached for three runs and six hits in 6
2/3 innings as the Phillies dropped to 1-4 on their final road trip
of the season. Ryan Howard belted a solo home run and Darin Ruf
doubled to highlight the Philadelphia offense.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2014/Sep/20/images/ads/current/napa_bch1-3108.png) Lester got all the support he would need in the second, when Norris,
Sogard and Crisp delivered back-to-back-to-back two-out RBI singles
after Adam Dunn reached on an infield single and Stephen Vogt
walked. Howard went deep in the third but Lester settled in and
allowed one runner to reach second base over the remainder of his
outing.
Jed Lowrie led off the Oakland half of the seventh with a triple but
was thrown out at home on a fielder™s choice to keep the lead at two
runs. Luke Gregerson worked the eighth and Sean Doolittle tossed a
1-2-3 ninth for his 22nd save.
[to top of second column] |
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GAME NOTEBOOK: Athletics RF Josh Reddick (neck) missed his second
straight game and is day-to-day. ¦ Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins
(hamstring) has not played since Sep. 8 but could return as early as
Saturday. ¦ Oakland snapped a three-game slide and won for just the
sixth time in its last 21 games.
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