OAKLAND, Calif., May 9 (UPI) -- A tie-breaking RBI single by Eric Chavez in the eighth inning sparked a five-run rally Friday night and Tim Hudson pitched eight innings as the Oakland Athletics defeated the New York Yankees, 7-2.
Having lost his only two decisions in his previous six starts against New York, Hudson (3-1) allowed two runs and five hits with a walk and five strikeouts. The righthander, who is 15-4 over his last 31 starts, moved into a tie with Rollie Fingers for eighth place on the Athletics' all-time victory list with 67.
Hudson, who is 1-1 in three postseason appearances against the Yankees, leads the American League with 56 wins since 2000. It was the first win after three straight no-decisions for Hudson, who entered the game with career victories over every AL team except Oakland and New York.
After being staked to a 2-0 lead in the third inning, Hudson served up a two-run home run to former teammate Jason Giambi in the fourth to knot the contest.
Hudson and New York starter Jeff Weaver traded scoreless frames until the eighth, when Chavez stroked a one-out single to center field to drive in Mark Ellis with the go-ahead run.
Ramon Hernandez added a two-run double and Terrence Long hit an inside-the-park homer for Oakland, which improved to 15-4 at home.
Weaver (2-2) pitched well before falling apart in the eighth. He lasted 7 2/3 innings, allowing six runs and seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
