A's Chop BoSox

Not one of the Oakland Athletics asked Tom Candiotti how to get a hit off Boston's Tim Wakefield before Sunday's meeting of the two knuckleballers.

It was just as well. Neither starter fared well, and the A's ended up winning 7-5 after Jason Giambi's go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning long after Wakefield had left the game.

With Boston leading 5-4 in the sixth following John Valentin's three-run homer, Giambi hit a bases-loaded single off Jim Corsi, who had relieved Tim Harikkala (1-1). One out later, Olmedo Saenz added an RBI double.

Giambi finished the day 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

But the attention was on the dueling knuckleballers. It was the first time Wakefield started against Candiotti since Aug. 26, 1992, when Wakefield pitched a six-hitter to lead Pittsburgh over Los Angeles 2-0.

Wakefield, who had three straight loses coming into Sunday's game, allowed four runs, six hits and a season-high five walks in three-plus innings.

"He doesn't have the same command of the ball as he used to have," Red Sox pitching coach Joe Kerrigan said. "Right now, I believe it's a mental thing. He has to take a different approach. His confidence is down a little now."

Candiotti was tagged for five runs and 11 hits in five-plus innings, walking just one. He wasn't too disappointed with the outing, but knew it was over when he gave up the homer to Valentin in the fifth inning.

So did A's manager Art Howe.

"Actually, I thought Tommy was pitching well," Howe said. "One swing and the three-run homer changed the game."

Doug Jones (1-0) allowed one hit in three shutout innings, and Bill Taylor pitched the ninth for his sixth save. After walking Jose Offerman and Valentin, Taylor struck out Brian Daubach, then retired Nomar Garciaparra on a flyout and Troy O'Leary on a grounder.

"It could have been a much easier game," Howe said. "But the bottom line is we won."

Boston tok a 2-0 lead in the first on Valentin's RBI grounder, Daubach's triple and Garciaparra's sacrifice fly, but Oakland scored three times in the bottom half on RBI singles by Giambi and John Jaha, and Saenz's RBI grounder.

Scott Spiezio added a sacrifice fly in the third inning that gave the A's a 4-2 lead.

Notes: The last time Wakefield faced another knuckleballer was Aug. 16, 1996, against the Angels' Dennis Springer. The Red Sox lost that one 6-3. .... Boston first baseman Mike Stanley was scratched from the lineup because of back spasms. ... Candiotti got just two outs Tuesday in his previous start, leaving because of swelling in his first knee. ... Phillips' walk in the second was his 1,262nd, tying him for 29th with Jack Clark and Ken Singleton. ... Miguel Tejada hit into an unusual 1-5-2-6-3 double play that ended the third. There were rundowns between third and home, and between first and second. ... In his first start at second base since April 20, Boston's Jeff Frye went 3-for-4 with three singles.

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