A’S Keep Rolling, Trip M’S Three-Run Third Inning Helps Oakland Stay Hot On The Road

Oakland won without a home run on Monday night, a rarity indeed for the slugging young Athletics.

“When we can do that, that means we got OK pitching,” 26-year-old winning pitcher Don Wengert said.

“This just shows we don’t need to get the long ball every night,” added Jason Giambi, 25.

The A’s, who lead the majors with 126 home runs, used Giambi’s two-run double in a three-run third inning to start them to their eighth victory in nine road games, a 6-4 win over Seattle on Monday night.

The A’s, who had a seven-game road winning streak broken at California on Sunday, used four pitchers against the Mariners in the first meeting of the A.L. West rivals this season. Wengert (3-6) was followed by Buddy Groom, Jim Corsi and Billy Taylor. Taylor earned his seventh save as the Mariners left 11 men on base and hit into three double plays.

“We’re coming together nicely as a team,” said Giambi, whose club is in last place in the A.L. West, but only four games under .500.

It was only the sixth time the A’s have won when they’ve been outhomered.

Giambi’s two-run double capped Oakland’s big third, and Mark McGwire, the A.L. Player of the Month in June, started July by singling home a run in the seventh.

Giambi leads the A’s with 57 RBIs.

“I’m running them up there pretty good,” said Giambi, who credited hitting third in front of Mark McGwire for his success this season. “I’m getting a lot of good pitches with McGwire behind me. All I’m doing is capitalizing on my opportunities.”

Seattle’s Matt Wagner (1-2) was the loser, surrendering six runs on six hits and five walks in 6-1/3 innings.

“Wagner didn’t give himself a good chance,” Seattle manager Lou Piniella said. “You can’t walk those little guys and let the middle part of that lineup come up with men on base via the walk. You have to make them hit the ball.”