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August 21, 2002
CLEVELAND -- Art Howe didn't have to be told things had tightened up in the West. Just like his Athletics lately, Oakland's manager was right on top of things.
"Seattle lost," Howe said. "Hopefully, we'll wake up tomorrow tied for first place."
The A's won't have to wait that long, because for the first time since April 10, they share the lead.
Jermaine Dye hit a three-run homer and Eric Chavez had a two-run shot as the streaking Athletics won their seventh straight Tuesday night, 6-3 over the Indians.
Oakland's win, coupled with losses by Anaheim and Seattle, moved the A's into a virtual three-way tie in the West. The Angels (.597) lead by two percentage points over the A's and Mariners (.595).
Close enough.
"It's real nice," Chavez said. "It's nice to be playing for something this time of year. We have a big month ahead, but we're doing what we have to do."
The A's have won 13 of 16 and are a season-high 24 games over .500.
Dye homered in the third off Jake Westbrook and Chavez went deep in the first as the A's improved to 14-4 in August. Oakland's first 11 hits came with two outs.
After blowing a great scoring chance in the third, the Indians chased rookie Aaron Harang and closed to 5-2 in the fifth, but Oakland centerfielder Terrence Long took another run away with a smart play.
Harang walked the first two in the inning, Ellis Burks hit a run-scoring single and Jim Thome had a run-scoring groundout.
Karim Garcia hit a sinking liner to center that Long charged and faked catching. Burks bought the decoy and retreated to third to tag up before trying to score. But Long made a strong throw home to catcher Ramon Hernandez, who slapped his tag on the sliding Burks.
YANKEES 7, ANGELS 5: Bernie Williams singled three times, giving him 10 straight multihit games, and Jason Giambi homered and drove in three runs to lead host New York.
The Yankees took advantage of Aaron Sele's career high-tying seven walks and a key error by third baseman Troy Glaus to break a sixth-inning tie. Giambi singled home the go-ahead run and Williams followed with a run-scoring single.
TIGERS 6, MARINERS 3: Damion Easley and Bobby Higginson hit back-to-back homers in the sixth for host Detroit.
Seattle has lost four of five. Detroit has won the first two games in the three-game series after being swept in Seattle July 10-12.
RANGERS 3, BOSTON 2 (10): Ivan Rodriguez homered to tie it in the ninth and Todd Hollandsworth homered in the 10th as visiting Texas won its fifth in a row.
Boston's Derek Lowe left with a 2-1 lead, but closer Ugueth Urbina blew his fifth save in 33 chances when Rodriguez led off the ninth with his 11th home run.
TWINS 5, WHITE SOX 0: Kyle Lohse pitched a four-hitter and Jacque Jones hit his second leadoff homer in as many days for visiting Minnesota. It was the sixth straight loss for Chicago, which dropped a season-worst 10 games under .500.
ROYALS 6, BLUE JAYS 3 (12): Raul Ibanez hit a three-run homer in 12th, then visiting Kansas City held on. Toronto starter Justin Miller walked Neifi Perez and Luis Ordaz to lead off the fifth before Michael Tucker hit a sacrifice fly, tying it at 3.