Oakland A's come back to beat San Diego Padres 6-4 - Contra Costa Times

History suggested that it was hardly Jonny Gomes' time to shine Saturday.

Having gone 0 for 34 as a pinch hitter dating to August 2010, Gomes was sent in to bat for Seth Smith in the bottom of the seventh and A's runners on the corners with two outs.

Gomes turned on a fastball from Luke Gregerson and drilled a two-run homer that sent the A's to a 6-4 victory over the San Diego Padres and ran their winning streak to five.

It was just the latest example of how Gomes has found a way to help his team off the bench.

"That's his role and that's what he and Smitty are going to alternate doing from time to time," said A's manager Bob Melvin, who smiled and admitted: "I didn't know he was 0 for 34 though."

Even when the percentages don't seem to favor the A's, they're finding a way to win.

In their previous two games, they bludgeoned Colorado and San Diego by a combined score of 18-4. They had to mount a comeback Saturday after Will Venable's two-run double off Sean Doolittle gave the Padres a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh.

Then the chess match began in the bottom of the seventh, and that too went in Oakland's favor.

With runners on the corners and Padres lefty Joe Thatcher (0-2) on the mound, Melvin inserted the right-handed hitting Gomes to bat for Smith, who homered earlier in the game.

After the count went to 1-0 on Gomes, San Diego manager Bud Black countered by bringing in the righty

Gregerson.

Bad move.

Gregerson's first offering was a wild pitch that allowed Cliff Pennington to score from third and tie the game.

Gomes worked the count to 3-1 and lined a fastball that still seemed to be rising when it reached the seats in left-center.

"On their part, (bringing in Gregerson) is probably a given," Gomes said. "You don't take it personal. But if you're a competitor, you've gotta dig in a little more."

Gomes, the Mohawk-wearing native of Petaluma, has started just two of the A's 15 games in June, and he could have been a roster casualty had Oakland promoted Manny Ramirez from the minors. Instead, Ramirez was granted his release Friday and Gomes remains an integral player off the bench.

In Wednesday's victory at Colorado, he doubled and homered after replacing the injured Yoenis Cespedes in left field.

When the A's were in the middle of a nine-game losing streak, Gomes talked of the need for players to quit looking for someone else to grab the reins and turn the A's fortunes around.

He had a different take Saturday.

"We're starting to see a little character in here," Gomes said.

Some good luck doesn't hurt.

After the A's took their 6-4 lead, reliever Grant Balfour put runners on the corners with one out in the eighth. Yonder Alonso smoked a liner right at A's first baseman Brandon Moss, who caught the ball while falling down and landed right near the bag. He easily doubled off Mark Kotsay to end the rally.

"I'm glad I got my glove up," Moss said, "or I would have worn it on my chest."

• Rookie Ryan Cook pitched a perfect ninth to convert his third straight save opportunity.

  Melvin said June 9 he was turning to a three-headed closer rotation of Cook, Balfour and Brian Fuentes. But he stated for the first time Saturday that Cook is the preferred option.

  "We're going to do the best we can to get him in that role, and if I need him earlier, I certainly have confidence in the other guys."

• Tyson Ross, recalled from the minors to make the start Saturday in place of Brandon McCarthy, didn't allow a hit until Carlos Quentin's two-run homer in the sixth.

  The right-hander allowed just that one hit over six innings, using an effective slider to offset his four walks and one hit batter.

  Handling left-handed hitters is something Ross has struggled with, but Melvin was happy with the way he pitched inside and used his slider against lefties.

  McCarthy, who has battled shoulder soreness, is slated to pitch Tuesday's series opener against the Dodgers. Melvin wouldn't say what that means for Ross, but his only shot at sticking on the roster would seem to be if the A's sent starter Travis Blackley down.

• Cespedes (strained left hamstring) remained out of the lineup and Melvin said he likely wouldn't return until after Monday's day off. Cespedes missed four games and then played just 1½ innings Wednesday before aggravating his injury.
• Doolittle surrendered the A's lead in the seventh but wound up pocketing his first major league victory.
• Moss, who had homered in four straight games, went 1 for 4 with a double and three strikeouts. He entered the day with six homers in nine games with the A's, tying Jack Cust's franchise record for most homers over a player's first nine games with the club.
• Reliever Evan Scribner was optioned to Triple-A clear a roster spot for Ross, and utility infielder Eric Sogard was recalled with Adam Rosales being optioned. First baseman Kila Ka'aihue cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A.
• General manager Billy Beane said outfield prospect Grant Green -- the A's 2009 first-round pick -- is now seeing time at third base and shortstop as well. Green was drafted as a shortstop but was switched to center field last season.