By The Canadian Press

The Oakland Athletics finally got some much-needed offence - much to the delight of their starting pitcher, Victoria native Rich Harden.

Jack Cust hit a solo home run and Ryan Sweeney added a three-run shot, and the Athletics held on to beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 on Saturday night to end a season-worst four-game losing streak.

The A's had only three extra-base hits - all doubles - during their losing streak and had scored only four runs. They entered the game with 22 home runs, third fewest in the majors.

Oakland broke out unexpectedly with Sweeney hitting his first homer. It came off Tim Hudson, who had allowed only one all season prior to Saturday night.

"I didn't know that. That makes it even better," Sweeney said.

"The three-run homer was kind of the backbreaker right there," Hudson said.

Hudson went five innings. He gave up five hits, five earned runs, walked five and struck out three.

Harden (2-0) pitched seven strong innings in ending Atlanta's eight-game home winning streak. The right-hander allowed four hits, one earned run, walked one and struck out eight.

The Braves rallied from a 5-1 deficit with three runs in the ninth off Huston Street.

Jeff Francoeur had a run-scoring groundout, Kelly Johnson an RBI triple and Gregor Blanco a sacrifice fly before Street struck out Greg Norton to end the rally.

Cust hit his fifth homer in the opening inning and Sweeney hit his just inside the right field pole off Hudson (6-3). The right-hander had been 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA at home entering the game.

"I thought it might go foul," Sweeney said. "I wasn't trying to hit a home run in that situation, but it was good to put some runs on the board early. It's a big plus."

In other interleague action Saturday, it was: Toronto 6 Philadelphia 3; N.Y. Mets 7 N.Y. Yankees 4; St. Louis 9 Tampa Bay 8 (10 innings); Boston 5 Milwaukee 3 (1st game); Boston 7 Milwaukee 6 (2nd game); L.A. Dodgers 6 L.A. Angels 3; Cincinnati 4 Cleveland 2; Texas 6 Houston 2; Baltimore 6 Washington 5; Florida 7 Kansas City 3; Colorado 3 Minnesota 2; Detroit 3 Arizona 2; Chicago White Sox 3 San Francisco 1; and Seattle 4 San Diego 2.

In the lone National League game, it was: Pittsburgh 7 Chicago Cubs 6.

At Atlanta, Harden, making only his fourth start of the season and second since spending five weeks on the DL with a strained right shoulder, threw 102 pitches - including 72 strikes - and was ahead in the count on most hitters with a fastball clocked between 93 and 96 m.p.h.

"Great," he said when asked about the shoulder. "I felt pretty good. My first game back (Sunday at Texas, he gave up eight hits and five runs in 3 2-3 innings) it felt good. I got ahead of a lot of their hitters but threw too many pitches they could hit. Tonight, I focused on making them chase pitches when I got ahead and it worked better."

He pitched in only seven games last season because of his shoulder problem and was 1-2 with a 2.45 ERA. He's been on the DL six times in the past four years, pitching in only 42 games with a 17-7 record.

"It was really kind of a normal game for him. He had a mid 90s fastball and compliments that with a great change. He's tough to hit," A's manager Bob Geren said. "We didn't want him to throw much more than 100 pitches. We're kind of taking it one game at a time."

A healthy Harden is usually difficult to hit.

Just the Braves.

"He was vintage Rich Harden, throwing his fastball in and out, 94-95. A good changeup and split," said Mark Teixeira, who had one of the four hits off Harden.

"Harden is as advertised. He's really a master on the mound out there with his stuff," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said.

Atlanta's only run off Harden came in the fifth, when he issued a two-out walk to Blanco. Pinch-hitter Ruben Gotay singled and Yunel Escobar ended an 0-for-12 slump with an RBI single.

Blue Jays 6 Phillies 3

At Philadelphia, Rod Barajas hit a pair of homers, including a grand slam, and finished with a career high-tying five RBIs as Toronto downed the Phillies.

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Mets 7 Yankees 4

At New York, Johan Santana pitched into the eighth inning and David Wright had three hits, including a two-run homer, as the Mets topped the Yankees.

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Cardinals 9 Rays 8 (10 innings)

At St. Louis, Ryan Ludwick's second home run of the game in the bottom of the 10th inning propelled the Cardinals to a wild win over Tampa Bay.

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Red Sox 5 Brewers 3 (1st game)

Red Sox 7 Brewers 6 (2nd game)

At Boston, David Ortiz had a three-run homer in the first game and Mike Lowell homered and drove in four runs in the second as the Red Sox swept a doubleheader against Milwaukee.

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Dodgers 6 Angels 3

At Anaheim, Calif., Blake Dewitt hit his fourth home run of the season and Russell Martin of Chelsea, Que., added three hits and an RBI as the Dodgers downed the Angels.

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Reds 4 Indians 2

At Cincinnati, Adam Dunn belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Reds rallied to beat Cleveland.

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Rangers 6 Astros 2

At Arlington, Texas, Milton Bradley and Marlon Byrd hit two-run homers early and the Rangers clinched their seventh consecutive series by beating Houston.

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Orioles 6 Nationals 5

At Baltimore, Nick Markakis homered and drove in three runs, Brian Burres pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and the Orioles beat Washington for their fourth straight victory.

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Marlins 7 Royals 3

At Miami, Wes Helms hit a three-run, pinch-hit homer and Mike Jacobs added a two-run shot in the seventh inning, helping the Marlins beat Kansas City to end a four-game losing streak.

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Rockies 3 Twins 2

At Denver, Ryan Spilborghs hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning and the Rockies halted a six-game losing streak with a victory over Minnesota.

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Tigers 3 Diamondbacks 2

At Phoenix, Carlos Guillen hit a two-run single and Matt Joyce homered to lead Detroit past the Diamondbacks, ending a five-game losing streak.

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White Sox 3 Giants 1

At San Francisco, Mark Buehrle scattered seven hits over 6 2-3 innings and Jermaine Dye went 3-for-5 with a run scored as Chicago slid past the Giants.

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Mariners 4 Padres 2

At Seattle, Adrian Beltre hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Mariners held on to beat San Diego.

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Pirates 7 Cubs 6

At Chicago, Nate McLouth had three hits, including the decisive two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, to lift Pittsburgh past the Cubs.

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