OAKLAND, Calif., May 8 (UPI) -- Miguel Tejada had three hits Thursday, including a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, as the Oakland Athletics held on for an 8-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Oakland has won 10 of its last 13 games and 14 of 20. Most of the victories have come without contributions from Tejada. But the reigning American League MVP has started to show signs of life, hitting .333 in his last eight contests following an eight-for-72 slide.
Tejada raised his batting average to .196 with his third three-hit game of the season. His seventh homer, a shot to center field off starter Jon Garland (2-3) snapped a 2-2 tie and put the Athletics ahead for good.
Tejada also singled in the second, doubled in the fourth and scored three runs. He was on base four times and scored the tying run in the fourth on a double by Ramon Hernandez.
Oakland starter John Halama (2-2) won for the first time in a month, allowing two runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. He served up a two-run homer in the third to Magglio Ordonez but yielded just three hits thereafter.
Jim Mecir finished the seventh but allowed two runs in the eighth. Jeremy Fikac faced one batter and issued a bases-loaded walk to D'Angelo Jimenez that made it 8-3.
Closer Keith Foulke issued another bases-loaded walk and gave up Frank Thomas' leadoff homer in the ninth. But the White Sox's former closer settled down and notched his ninth save in 11 chances.
