Meister der Farbe » his first six games in the

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Bartolo Colon was feeling a little run down during the second inning. He felt a lot better after Josh Reddick made a shoestring catch that saved a couple more runs. Colon worked seven strong innings to win his sixth straight decision, Reddick homered and matched a career high with four hits, and the Oakland Athletics avoided a sweep with a 10-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. "I did feel tired during the second inning and was just trying to find a way to get through it," Colon said. "All I can say is that was the best play. I felt, Wow and was ready to get the next guys out." That catch, with the bases loaded and two runs already in, helped Oaklands pitchers face the minimum 23 batters the rest of the way, with a pair of double plays erasing the lone baserunners. "He made several good plays," As manager Bob Melvin said. "That play probably had a lot to do with getting the momentum back and allowing Bartolo to get his second wind." Sean Smith and Brandon Moss each homered and drove in two runs for the Athletics, who moved three games ahead of Texas in the AL West -- their largest lead since ending the 2006 season four games up. Josh Donaldson also went deep, and Yoenis Cespedes, Coco Crisp and John Jaso each drove in runs for Oakland. "I had a feeling about it as I was running in and watching it sink," Reddick said. "I shoestringed it and was kind of lucky because the ball was moving." Colon (9-2) allowed two runs on eight hits, did not walk a batter and struck out three to extend his home win streak to seven. "Today could have gotten away from him early," Donaldson said. "Reddick made that nice catch and it kind of picked him up. Bartolo is a never-say-die guy anyway. You know hes going to come back and throw strikes." Hisashi Iwakuma (7-2) lost for the first time since April 23, giving up four runs on a season high-tying eight hits. He also walked Jaso three times and struck out three. Iwakumas streak of not allowing an earned run was stopped at 31 2-3 innings, second longest in Mariners history to Mark Langstons 34-inning streak in 1988. Endy Chavez had two hits and drove in two runs for the Mariners, who were looking for their first sweep of the season. Michael Morse, Jason Bay and Mike Zunino each singled to open the second inning for Seattle. After Colon struck out Brendan Ryan, Chavez delivered a two-run single. Nick Franklin singled to reload the bases, but Colon got Kyle Seager and Kendrys Morales on short fly balls to limit the damage. "That was a great play. Seager couldnt hit that ball any harder," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "He hit it so hard it stayed for Reddick to get it. Hes got a great arm too, so that was a tough one there." Iwakuma allowed his first earned run since May 26 when the As got to him in the fourth. Donaldson and Smith hit back-to-back doubles to open the inning and Reddick followed with an RBI single. Cespedes and Moss each drove in a run in the fifth to make it 4-2. Colon slammed the door on the Mariners after the second, retiring 11 straight before allowing Morses single in the sixth. Colon induced a double play ball from Bay and then worked a perfect seventh. "He didnt change a thing," Chavez said of Colon. "He kept throwing the same things, a sinker inside and a fastball outside for strikes." Donaldson and Smith hit back-to-back home runs with one out in the seventh against Blake Beaven. Crisp later walked with the bases loaded and Jaso hit a sacrifice fly against Tom Wilhelmsen to make it 8-2. Moss and Reddick each went deep in the ninth against Carter Capps. Sean Doolittle and Dan Otero pitched an inning apiece to close it out. Notes: Mariners LHP prospect Danny Hultzen (rotator cuff strain) remains at extended spring training. The former first-round draft pick last appeared in a game on April 19 with Triple-A Tacoma. Manager Eric Wedge said before the game that Hultzen would remain in Peoria while he continues to build arm strength. ... As INF Jed Lowrie was given the day off as manager Bob Melvin continues to deal with the effects of Thursdays 18-inning game against the New York Yankees. ... Cespedes will likely return to the outfield when the As open a four-game series at Texas on Monday. ... Colon threw 31 pitches in the second inning, the first time hes thrown 30 or more in an inning this year. ... INF Justin Smoak (strained right oblique) could return to the Mariners lineup as early as Monday night in Anaheim. ... The As hit more than two home runs in a game at home for the first time this year. ... RHP Aaron Harang (3-6, 5.60 ERA) takes the mound for Seattle against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. He threw a two-hit shutout in his last start. ... The As will send RHP Dan Straily (4-2, 4.45) to the mound against the Rangers. Hes 3-0 with a 2.21 ERA over his last five starts. 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In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month.PHOENIX -- Nate Schierholtz lined a two-out double into the left-field corner in the top of the 12th inning to drive in the go-ahead run and the Chicago Cubs held on to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-6 Wednesday night. The RBI was the fifth of the night for Schierholtz, who also hit a three-run home run. The Cubs lost a six-run lead but rallied with two out in the 12th on a walk to Anthony Rizzo followed by Schierholtzs double. Hector Rondon (2-0) pitched the 11th and 12th innings for the win. The Diamondbacks left 16 runners on base and fell 1 1/2 games out of first place in the NL West behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. David Hernandez (4-6) took the loss after Arizonas relievers had pitched 6 2-3 scoreless innings. Diamondbacks slugger Paul Goldschmidt hit his 22nd home run, a three-run shot in the sixth inning. Cubs starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija wasnt always sharp, but he managed to get through 5 2-3 innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits with five walks and five strikeouts. Samardzija ran into trouble in the first inning, loading the bases with two out on two walks and a hit. But he struck out Jason Kubel looking to end the threat. The Cubs took the lead in the fourth inning on David DeJesus leadoff double to deep centre field, followed by a sacrifice and Rizzos RBI double. Rizzo came home to score on a single by Schierholtz. DeJesus was in the lineup for his first game since going on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder sprain on June 15. After Samardzija got out of another two-out, bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth, the Cubs did their damage in the fifth. With two out, DeJesus singled and scored on Junior Lakes double. Rizzo walked, then Schierholtz pulled his home run down the right field line. That gave the Cubs a 6-0 lead, with all runs coming off Diamondbacks starter Ian Kennedy. The right-hannder has struggled in his last three starts at home.dddddddddddd Wednesday he lasted five innings, giving up six runs on seven hits while striking out seven. Lake doubled in the first inning and added his RBI double in the fifth, raising his hit total to 14 in his first six games in the majors. The Diamondbacks got on the board in the fifth when Samardzija again loaded the bases, this time with none out. With one out, Martin Prado hit a sharp ground ball up the middle that Chicago second baseman Darwin Barney let go under his glove for an error. Two runs scored, but Samardzija avoided further damage. Arizona chased Samardzija in the sixth by putting runners at first and third with two out. Goldschmidt greeted reliever Blake Parker with a line drive home run to left field, plating three runs to make it 6-5. The Diamondbacks put runners on the corners with no outs in the ninth against Cubs closer Kevin Gregg. After a flyout, pinch hitter Cody Ross hit a sacrifice fly deep enough to allow Goldschmidt to score the tying run. Gregg escaped a bases-loaded jam in the 10th, getting Prado to ground out to end the inning. NOTES: Diamondbacks C Miguel Montero sat out a second straight game due to back pain. He felt it during batting practice before Tuesdays game and was to see a doctor Wednesday. ... Diamondbacks 3B Eric Chavez has 28 RBIs in his last 31 starts after going his first five starts without driving in a run, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. ... In activating DeJesus, the Cubs optioned OF Dave Sappelt to Triple-A Iowa. DeJesus most recently played three games with Mesa of the rookie league, where he went 4 for 11 with four runs scored, two doubles and a walk. ... Samardzija and second baseman Barney collided when going for a slow roller to second off the bat of Arizonas Wil Nieves in the fourth inning. Neither was hurt. ' ' '