Breaks fall Zito”s way as A”s edge Mariners

OAKLAND, Calif. – A grounder that deflected off first base for a run-scoring hit. A flyball lost in the sun to key a two-run inning.

The type of bounces that so often went against Barry Zito during his eight-start winless stretch finally went his way.

Zito pitched seven strong innings for his first win since Sept. 12, getting just enough support in Oakland’s 3-2 victory Sunday over the Seattle Mariners.

“The pieces are starting to come together,” Zito said. “It’s always nice to get a win. But the process is more important than the results.”

Zito (1-4), the last member of the “Big Three” still with the Athletics, allowed two runs and five hits. The 2002 A.L. Cy Young Award winner had lost five straight decisions, matching his career worst, before recovering against Seattle.

Erubiel Durazo hit a two-run double in the sixth inning off Joel Pineiro (2-2) for the big offensive blow for the A’s, who had scored just six runs while Zito was in the game in his first five starts.

Pineiro, who had won seven straight decisions against Oakland, looked in command when he entered the sixth with a 2-1 lead. But Eric Chavez led off with a single and the A’s got a break when Scott Hatteberg’s flyball fell for a hit between second baseman Boone and right fielder Ichiro Suzuki.

Durazo, who entered 1 for 16 in his career against Pineiro, then hit a drive to center to score both runners. Durazo was caught trying to stretch it into a triple.

Octavio Dotel pitched the ninth for his sixth save despite walking the first two batters. Dotel recovered to strike out Adrian Beltre and get Richie Sexson to hit into a game-ending double play.

Seattle opened the scoring in the third when Reed tripled and scored on Miguel Olivo’s sacrifice fly.

Oakland tied it in the bottom half. With runners on first and second and two outs, Bobby Kielty hit a hard grounder that deflected off first base for an infield hit. Chavez scored when Boone had a hard time gripping the ball and couldn’t make a throw home.

Seattle went ahead in the sixth on Randy Winn’s RBI double.