CINCINNATI, June 23 (UPI) -- Eric Chavez hit a two-out, two-run homer in the sixth inning and Mark Mulder tossed six innings Sunday as the streaking Oakland Athletics defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 5-1, to complete a three-game sweep.
The homer by Chavez made a winner of Mulder (8-4), who allowed a run and six hits. He walked one and struck out four before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh.
Oakland improved to 14-1 against the National League this season and its overall mark of 64-37 in interleague play is the best in the majors.
The Athletics, who begin a four-game series at Seattle on Monday, have won seven straight, 15 of 16 and 23 of their last 28 contests.
Chad Bradford, Mike Venafro and Jim Mecir combined for three scoreless innings in relief for the Athletics.
The setback extended the Reds' losing streak to seven games and they got more bad news when oft-injured center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. left in the bottom of the fourth with tightness in his right hamstring.
Griffey, who missed 41 games earlier this year due to a partially torn patellar tendon, suffered the injury while rounding first on a double.
Griffey is listed as day-to-day and the Reds said he was lifted for precautionary reasons.
Reds starter Chris Reitsma (3-5) blanked the Athletics for five innings and Cincinnati grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fifth. Corky Miller led off with a single, moved up on Reitsma's sacrifice and scored on Aaron Boone's single to shallow left field.
Reitsma was cruising before giving up a two-out infield single to David Justice in the sixth. Justice moved to second on Boone's throwing error.
With a base open, Reds pitching coach Don Gullet went to the mound. Three pitches later, the third baseman drilled a 1-1 offering over the center field fence, giving the Athletics a 2-1 lead.
Oakland tacked on two runs in the seventh, knocking out Reitsma on Terrence Long's double and Mark Ellis' triple. Scott Sullivan replaced Reitsma and gave up an RBI single to Miguel Tejada.
The Athletics scored their final run in the ninth off Danny Graves.
