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		Kouzmanoff the hero in A’s win over Birds By Daniel Dullum May 27, 2010
	Oakland Athletics third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff (5) throws to first base after forcing out Baltimore Orioles' Julio Lugo, right, at third during the third inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 27, 2010, in Baltimore. Orioles' Miguel Tejada was safe at first on the play. Third base umpire Mark Carlson, left back, looks on. (The Canadian Press)
	Kevin Kouzmanoff doubled in three runs to cap a five-run rally in the eighth inning, leading Oakland to a 7-5 win over the Orioles Thursday at Camden Yards in Baltimore. Oakland won the last two of the three-game series. Before Kouzmanoff’s heroics, Orioles starter Brad Bergesen had retired 14 straight Athletics and took a two-hitter and a 5-2 lead into the eighth. After Bergesen made his exit following a pair of singles, Jason Berken came on and got one out, and Mark Hendrickson (1-3) picked up out No. 2 before Ryan Sweeney’s RBI single made it 5-3. Kurt Suzuki followed with an infield hit off Hendrickson’s leg to load the bases. Then pinch-hitter Jake Fox sent a bad-hop grounder past Orioles shortstop Cesar Izturis and into left for a run-scoring single. With the bases still loaded, Orioles manager Dave Trembley called on reliever Cla Meredity, who surrendered Kouzmanoff’s line drive to the left-center field gap, clearing the bases. Greg Gross homered for the A’s, and reliever Michael Wuertz (2-0) got a pair of outs in the seventh to earn the win. Andrew Bailey worked the ninth to get his ninth save. Former A’s shortstop Miguel Tejada had two RBI, and Julio Lugo picked up three hits. But the Orioles have lost nine of their last 12 games. Athletics starter Gio Gonzalez surrendered three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings while striking out six. Gonzalez fanned Corey Patterson three times. The A’s continue their road trip with a three-game set in Detroit, starting Friday.