Oakland, CA (Sports Network) – Mark Teixeira belted a three-run homer during New York’s five-run fourth inning and A.J. Burnett picked up his first win in over a month as the Yankees downed the Athletics, 6-2, to complete a three- game sweep at the Coliseum.
Burnett (7-7), winless in his previous six outings, scattered five hits, two walks and two runs over seven innings to win for the first time since May 30 versus Cleveland.
“He had a tough month,” Teixeira said of Burnett. “It happens to every athlete. It’s not when you’re going bad, it’s hey, let’s get back up, let’s start playing well. He had a couple bad starts. Last two starts he’s been really good, so that’s what we expect out of him.”
Nick Swisher went 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and a solo homer for the Yankees, who recorded their first road sweep of the season and first in Oakland since May 2005.
Gio Gonzalez (7-6) was roughed up for five runs on eight hits and five walks over four-plus innings for Oakland.
“Just trying to do too much, instead of just going out there and trusting your stuff, trusting your defense and throwing strikes,” Gonzalez said. “I should have attacked the zone, right from the get-go. Should have thrown first-pitch strikes.”
Cliff Pennington walked with two outs in the third, stole second and scored on Coco Crisp’s single to left to give Oakland an early 1-0 lead.
New York’s next at-bat started off similarly, as Brett Gardner walked with two away, swiped second and raced home on Ramiro Pena’s base hit to right. The Yankees weren’t done though, as Pena advanced on a wild pitch and came around on Derek Jeter’s single. Gonzalez then walked Swisher and served up a first- pitch fastball that Teixeira crushed over the wall in left-center for a 5-1 score.
Swisher tacked on an opposite-field blast in the sixth, and Jack Cust singled home Daric Barton in the bottom half to account for the final margin.
Ryan Sweeney had two of Oakland’s six hits…The Yankees’ Robinson Cano sat out to rest a lower back injury. The All-Star second baseman announced earlier Wednesday he will not participate in this year’s Home Run Derby…Before the game, the A’s selected pitcher Ross Wolf from Triple-A Sacramento, optioned pitcher Tyson Ross to Sacramento and transferred infielder Eric Chavez from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list…Ryan Sweeney had two of Oakland’s five hits.