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Tam earns first victory as
an A
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LOS ANGELES
(AP) -- If Oakland manager Art Howe wanted to test reliever Jeff Tam
under fire, he could not have found a tougher situation.Tam, a
29-year-old with limited experience until emerging as the Athletics'
primary set-up man, passed the test.
"That whole lineup can just crush the ball. They're all
great hitters," Tam said of the Los Angeles Dodgers, after
turning them back with an overpowering 1 2/3-inning relief effort to
set up Oakland's 3-1 victory.
Olmedo Saenz hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning as
the Athletics ran their interleague record to 6-1.
But it was Tam (1-2) preserved the 1-1 tie that Saenz |
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He took over
for starter Tim Hudson with one out in the seventh and runners on second and third.
Tam sneaked a third strike past Mark
Grudzielanek -- who had homered in the first for the Dodgers' only run
-- and retired Gary Sheffield on a fly to the edge of the warning track in right-center.
"That was the whole game, right there. He shut them down from the
moment he came in," Howe said.
Tam has a 1.93 ERA in 29 appearances, having given his manager many
chances to make that statement.
"I love it every time I say it," said Howe, whose team
stretched its AL West lead to 1 1-2 games and its major league best road
record to 18-10.
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