A's rookies batter Tribe, snap streak

While Nick Swisher grinned through a face full of shaving cream, Bobby Crosby quietly chuckled in the corner of the Oakland Athletics' clubhouse.

Swisher's first week in the big leagues had just been capped by a rookie hazing. Crosby is long past those first-year rituals — but both rookies came through Saturday to stop the A's five-game losing streak in Oakland, Calif.

Crosby and Swisher hit back-to-back homers in the eighth inning against Bob Howry, leading the A's to a 5-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

Oakland rallied from a four-run deficit in the final three innings to keep its AL West lead. It wouldn't have happened without the rookies, who stepped up to fill the hero's role occupied by Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada and other veteran stars in Septembers past.

"We know we can't play like this is our first year," Crosby said. "If you're in the lineup, you've got to contribute, and it felt great to do that today."

With another bit of their customary late-season magic, the A's stayed on top of the division for at least one more day. The A's entered Saturday with just a one-game lead over the Anaheim Angels.

Scott Hatteberg had a two-run double for the A's, who appeared headed to their longest losing skid of the season after C.C. Sabathia held them scoreless through six innings. Travis Hafner hit a three-run homer in the seventh, staking Cleveland to a 4-0 lead.

"To say we needed that one would be an understatement," manager Ken Macha said. "Being down and battling back like we did will hopefully be a big boost for us."

YANKEES 5, ORIOLES 2: At Baltimore, Orlando Hernandez pitched seven innings of five-hit ball to become the first Yankees starter to open the season 8-0 since Bob Wickman in 1993. New York, which began the day 2 1/2 games ahead of Boston in the AL East, is 11-1 in his starts. Mariano Rivera got three outs for his major-league leading 47th save. He tied former teammate John Wetteland for eighth on the career list at 330.

TWINS 3, TIGERS 2: At Detroit, Cristian Guzman and Shannon Stewart homered, and Jacque Jones hit a go-ahead single in the seventh off Al Levine (3-3) as the AL Central leader won its fourth straight. Jesse Crain (2-0) got an out in the sixth and two in the seventh, and Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his 40th save.

DEVIL RAYS 8, ROYALS 6: At Kansas City, Mo., Tampa Bay stopped the second-longest losing streak in team history at 12 games, three shy of the Devil Rays' record, overcoming deficits of 4-2 and 6-5. Julio Lugo hit his third double of the game in the seventh and tied it 6-all when he scored on a wild pitch by Jimmy Serrano (1-2).