A's, alcohol ban leave Guillen in grumpy mood

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After a slow adjustment to the A’s, Loaiza has been the dependable starter Oakland needed during its playoff push, going 5-0 in seven strong appearances before getting pounded at Tampa Bay last Saturday.

Loaiza and fellow starters Joe Blanton and Dan Haren have 10 wins apiece since June 8 — and Barry Zito, who has nine wins in that span, could join them with a victory Saturday. Combined with standout defense, the A’s have been able to win without big hits.

“We’ve really been below-average in hitting,” said Eric Chavez, who went 0-for-2 but scored the go-ahead run. “Defense and pitching has been the name of the game for us.”

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Loaiza retired Chicago’s first seven hitters before Mackowiak’s homer. Oakland tied it later in the third inning when Scutaro beat out an infield single and scored on a triple by Kotsay, who returned to the lineup after missing the just-concluded six-game trip with back problems.

The A’s put at least one runner in scoring position in each of Garland’s last five innings. Garland left with his head down in the sixth after two more Oakland hits.

“Tough decision to make, to take him out,” Guillen said. “This kid has a chance to win 20 games, but I had to think about getting the team a win. ... If you don’t throw a strike against these guys, you get in trouble. All of a sudden, you’re in the fifth inning and you have 100 pitches.”

Notes: A’s DH Frank Thomas’ second-inning double against his former team was the 952nd extra-base hit of his career, tying him with Mickey Mantle for 37th place on baseball’s career list. ... A’s RHP Rich Harden will throw a simulated game Saturday, the latest step in his quest to return to the mound for the first time since early June. ... Kotsay’s back spasms had kept him out of 17 of the A’s previous 34 games.

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