PHOENIX -- Scott Podsednik hit the tying homer in the bottom of the
ninth thanks to a gust, but lost Bobby Crosby's wind-aided two-run
double in the 10th inning as Oakland defeated Milwaukee 7-5 Thursday.

It was a dual debut for managers Ken Macha of the Athletics and Ned
Yost of the Brewers.

Macha was promoted from bench coach in Oakland after Art Howe went to
the New York Mets. Macha turned down the Brewers' job, which went to
Yost, who spent 11 seasons on Bobby Cox's staff in Atlanta.

AL Cy Young winner Barry Zito started for Oakland and pitched three
innings. He gave up two hits, including a solo homer by Robert
Machado.

"I'm not looking for results the first outing. I'm looking for how I
feel," Zito said.

"I threw my ball consistently in the inside of the plate. My fastball
away was good, my curveball was good," he said.

Despite the cold and rain, Zito said he was glad the game got played
because a 48-pitch effort wouldn't have been the same in the bullpen.

"Unless you're out in a game situation facing a team that's not your
own, it's tough to get your adrenaline going," he said.

Brooks Kieschnick, trying to make the Brewers as a pitcher and a
pinch-hitter, was in line for the victory after throwing a seventh
scoreless inning and hitting a single.

"We had everything set up perfect," Yost said.

The Athletics took a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth when right
fielder Mark Budzinski lost a ball in the sun, allowing Graham Koonce
to score from second base. But Podsednik led off the bottom of the
ninth with a homer to center field off John Rheinecker.

Matt Childers walked two batters before Crosby hit a ball off the
wall in left-center in the 10th.

"I didn't think Podsednik's ball was out," Yost said. "Crosby's ball
just kept carrying away from him. It just kept going and going."

Justin Duchscherer pitched the 10th for the save.

The teams didn't expect to get in more than a few innings because of
intermittent showers that soaked the field and dugouts and kept the
crowd to 1,302.

Milwaukee starter Matt Kinney, acquired from Minnesota, struck out
three in two hitless innings.



AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service