Hudson sharp in return but fades

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Aug 8, 2004 | by Josh Suchon, STAFF WRITER

MINNEAPOLIS -- To know Tim Hudson is to know he's not content just giving his team a chance to win. He wants to win, period.

Whether it's been six weeks since he pitched in the majors or not, Hudson cares about victories, and simply pitching well Saturday for 5 innings was not much consolation to the fiery Oakland Athletics pitcher.

The reason is Hudson couldn't get out of the sixth inning, three runs scored as his command suddenly deserted him, and that was the difference in the Minnesota Twins' 4-3 win over the A's before 29,572 at the Metrodome.

The A's maintained a one-half game lead over the Texas Rangers, who lost 3-1 to Baltimore, in the American League West.

Just seeing Hudson back on the mound, so sharp for five innings, was good news for the A's. It will be even better news if he feels the normal amount of day-after soreness and the pain stays away from his left oblique.

But after seeing his teammates score three runs in the top of the seventh off Twins lefty Johan Santana, arguably the hottest pitcher in the American League since June, to trim the lead to 4-3, Hudson could only think what should have been.

"It's a double-edge sword," Hudson said. "I was (ticked) off because I had just thrown a four-spot up there. I felt like I

was good enough. I should have only given up one run, and we should have won the game."

Juan Rincon relieved Santana, struck out Bobby Crosby and shattered Eric Chavez's bat to leave the bases loaded, then pitched a scoreless eighth. Joe Nathan worked a perfect ninth for his 25th straight save, a club record, and 32nd overall.

Hudson retired 11 of the first 13 hitters he faced and looked like his old self, getting seven on ground balls and striking out three.

"That guy (Hudson) is never rusty," Twins center fielder Torii Hunter said. "I was more lucky than anything. I'm trying not to do too much against him. My ball just had eyes. He's a good pitcher."

Aggressive baserunning, on which the Twins pride themselves, scored the first run. Hunter singled up the middle and stole second. Lew Ford hit a grounder in the hole, Crosby made a diving stop, but his throw was in the dirt. Hunter only briefly slowed at third, and Scott Hatteberg's throw to the plate wasn't in time.

Crosby has played such tremendous defense lately, A's manager Ken Macha couldn't fault his rookie for trying to make that play. If the throw is accurate, the speedy Ford is probably out.

Two innings later, Hudson got two quick outs and had a low enough pitch count that a seventh inning was possible. But then Justin Morneau doubled, Hunter bounced a RBI single into right, and more aggressive baserunning opened the door for more damage.

Hunter took second on Jermaine Dye's throw home and third when the ball bounced away from catcher Damian Miller. Lew Ford walked, a wild pitch scored a run, and Justin Offerman singled home a third run.

"I didn't feel like I missed six weeks," Hudson said. "But after two outs in the sixth, though, I felt like I missed six weeks.

"That's how it is. It's not like I haven't been like that. Sometimes in midseason, I'll go through an inning like that. Your location gets away from you. It happens to everybody. Arm strength and physically, I felt fine."

Santana's name wasn't mentioned as a midseason Cy Young candidate, but he could be in the thick of the race with the A's Mark Mulder, Boston's Curt Schilling and Texas' Kenny Rogers by the end of the season.

The game Saturday was the first time in 12 starts Santana allowed more than two earned runs, although he led 4-2 when he departed the game.

His 3.34 ERA is second to Hudson's 3.15, his 183 strikeouts lead the league (by a wide margin), and his .210 opponents average is also easily the best in the league.

Santana struck out 10 in 6 innings, the ninth time this season (and seventh in his last 10 starts) he's reached double digits in strikeouts.

"He's as tough as they come," Miller said. "He's throwing 91, 93 (mph) with one of the best changeups in the league. You don't want to face a guy like that every day."

How they scored

Twins fourth: With two out, Hunter singled and stole second. Ford singled, Hunter scored. Twins 1, Athletics 0.

Twins sixth: With two out, Morneau doubled. Hunter singled, Morneau scored. Hunter to second. On Dye's error, Hunter to third. Ford walked. On Hudson's wild pitch, Hunter scored, Ford to third. Offerman singled, Ford scored. Twins 4, Athletics 0.

Athletics seventh: Dye singled. Hatteberg singled, Dye to second. Miller singled, Dye to third, Hatteberg to second. Durazo grounded out, Dye scored, Hatteberg to third, Miller to second. Kielty singled, Hatteberg scored, Miller to third. Scutaro singled, Miller scored. Twins 4, Athletics 3.