OAKLAND, Calif. — Justin Duchscherer faced only three batters over the minimum and threw a two-hitter to lead the Oakland Athletics to a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.
The right-hander allowed a two-out double to Richie Sexson in the fifth and a leadoff single to Miguel Cairo in the sixth. Sexson reached base on a two-base throwing error by Oakland catcher Kurt Suzuki in the third, though replays appeared to show the ball rolling foul off Sexson’s bat.
Duchscherer (10-5) retired the side in order six times including the ninth inning when he struck out Raul Ibanez to seal his first career complete game.
Duchscherer struck out four and walked none, improving to 7-2 with a 1.34 ERA over his last nine starts. The win was his first in six decisions against the Mariners.
Ryan Sweeney had an RBI single in the first and Donnie Murphy added a sacrifice fly in the second for Oakland.
On Tuesday, the A’s traded right-handed starter Rich Harden and reliever Chad Gaudin to the Chicago Cubs in a six-player deal. Oakland received right-hander Sean Gallagher, outfielders Matt Murton and Eric Patterson and minor leaguer Josh Donaldson. Gallagher is expected to make his first start for the A’s on Friday against the Los Angeles Angels.
Harden was Oakland’s staff ace this season but that title now belongs to Duchscherer, the right-hander who was named to the AL All-Star team on Sunday.
Seattle starter Carlos Silva (4-11), who has won once since April 17, signed a $48 million contract with the Mariners in the offseason.
He allowed seven hits and two runs in eight innings, striking out five.
Ichiro Suzuki went 0-for-4 and remains 17 hits from 3,000 for his professional career. Ichiro, whose last 31 hits have all been singles, has not had an extra-base hit in 109 consecutive plate appearances, the longest such streak of his career.
Earlier Tuesday, the Mariners confirmed that left-hander Erik Bedard, slowed by tightness in his pitching shoulder, will not make his next start until after the All-Star break. Bedard was acquired in an offseason trade with Baltimore to be Seattle’s staff ace but has been slowed by injuries and is only 6-4 in 15 starts this season.
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