Swisher homers twice, scores in 11th as A's beat Rockies

DENVER (AP) -- The conversation was short and to the point.

"Hey, man, quit trying to hit home runs," Oakland pitcher Joe Blanton told teammate Nick Swisher.

Swisher listened, thought about it, took the advice to heart and hit two home runs anyway -- including the tying shot in the ninth -- in Oakland's 3-2, 11-inning victory over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night.

"It was a nice kick in the pants," Swisher said of Blanton's suggestion a day earlier. "I was pressing."

Swisher scored the winning run on Bobby Kielty's single in the 11th. Swisher noticed that left fielder Matt Holliday was shading toward the line and had a long run to field Kielty's hit -- so he took a chance.

"I didn't even look at (third base coach Ron) Washington," Swisher said.

Swisher led off the inning by drawing a walk from Ray King (1-3) and was sacrificed to second by Mark Kotsay. After Eric Chavez walked, Keilty singled to left and Swisher slid under the tag of Yorvit Torrealba on Holliday's throw home.

Swisher's homer in the ninth off Colorado closer Brian Fuentes, his 19th, gave him his fourth multihomer game of the season and helped the A's avoid a three-game sweep. Swisher also homered in the fourth inning. It was the second time in his career Swisher hit homers from both sides of the plate.

The truth was Swisher didn't try to do anything more than put the ball in play against Fuentes.

"He's nasty," Swisher said.

Swisher also credited an in-game adjustment to his power surge. After striking out against Colorado starter Aaron Cook in the first inning, Swisher looked at his swing on video. He wouldn't say what adjustment was made, only that he altered his swing.

"I've never seen a sinker like he was throwing," Swisher said of Cook's trademark pitch. "He can be successful on just that pitch."

Cook limited Oakland to four hits in eight innings. Cook, who had lost four of his last five starts, struck out five.

"Cook was the best pitcher we faced in the series," Oakland manager Ken Macha said.

That's saying something since Colorado's Jason Jennings and Byung-Hyun Kim threw shutouts the previous two nights. Oakland scored three runs in 29 innings at Coors Field.

Kiko Calero (1-1) pitched two innings for the win. He has not allowed a run in his last 11 appearances, a span of 11 innings.

The A's finally scored their first run of the series with no outs in fourth inning on Swisher's home run to straightaway center. It was the first run allowed by Colorado since St. Louis scored with two outs in the fourth inning on June 18, a team-record span of 25 1/3 innings.

The Rockies' previous mark for scoreless innings was 24 from April 30 to May 2, 2002.

Oakland starter Barry Zito went seven innings, allowing one earned run and striking out five. He is 4-0 in June and has won six of his last eight starts.

"Barry had shutout stuff," Macha said. "We were fortunate. Swisher bailed us out."

Colorado manager Clint Hurdle never considered leaving Cook in the game for the ninth. Fuentes is the closer, end of discussion.

"Fuentes has been successful in that role," Hurdle said. "Cook was outstanding. It's a maddening game. He pitched great, and that is what he needs to walk out of here with."

Cook understood the logic behind Hurdle's decision.

"I would love to go out there and get a chance to finish it, but we have a great closer who has been to the All-Star game, and gets the job done more often than not, and does it very effectively," Cook said. "It just didn't work out tonight, so we just have to pick ourselves back up."

The A's came into the series on a 10-game winning streak, but dropped two of three to the Rockies.

"Got skunked two nights in a row," said Swisher, whose team is 15-4 in June. "We're the comeback kids."

Game notes
2B Kaz Matsui arrived in Denver to receive treatment for back spasms. Matsui hurt his back Monday while taking groundballs at Triple-A Colorado Springs. Matsui doesn't know how long he will be out, but won't rejoin the Sky Sox until next week. ... Oakland SS Bobby Crosby received the day off to rest a bruised hand. ... Pinch-hitters Doug Clark and Jay Payton grounded out and flew out, respectively, Wednesday. Oakland's pinch hitters are 0-for-21 this season. ... Oakland closer Huston Street tossed two scoreless innings, tying his season-high for innings pitched in a game. He has not allowed a run in 11 of his 12 outings in June.