Stewart Doesn’t Win, but A’s Do

CLEVELAND —  For Dave Stewart, the important thing was that the Oakland Athletics defeated the Cleveland Indians, 4-2, in 10 innings Monday night to end a three-game losing streak and maintain a 2 1/2-game lead over the Angels in the American League West.

But Stewart has to be wondering what he has to do to get a victory, specifically his 20th of the season and 100th of his career.

For the second straight time, Oakland relief ace Dennis Eckersley failed to hold a lead for Stewart in the ninth inning.

“With Eck coming in the game, there’s almost a 100% chance he’s going to close it out,” Stewart said. “There was no doubt in my mind he would do it.

“It’s a big thing to me, but the main thing is that the team win.”

Eckersley (3-0) allowed a game-tying, leadoff home run to Brook Jacoby on an 0-and-2 pitch, but wound up with the victory by retiring the last six Indians.

Dave Henderson hit a tiebreaking single and Tony Phillips added another run-scoring single for Oakland in the top of the 10th.

“After what I did to him the last time, it’s like, what am I going to do?” Eckersley said. “What can I say? He knows I’m out there trying.”

Last Wednesday against Milwaukee in Oakland, Eckersley came on in relief of Stewart gave up a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning but got the victory when Henderson homered in the bottom of the ninth.

Stewart (19-9) made his third start in an attempt to become the first pitcher to win 20 games in three consecutive seasons since Jim Palmer in 1975-78. Stewart gave up four hits in eight innings and left with a 2-1 lead.

Eckersley has blown five saves in 34 opportunities.

Oakland is 4-10 in extra innings, whereas Cleveland is 2-15.

In their last nine games, the Indians have gone into extra innings five times, losing them all.

Pinch hitter Ken Phelps drew a one-out walk from Steve Olin (1-3) in the Oakland 10th, and Mark McGwire singled pinch-runner Lance Blankenship to second. Henderson and Tony Phillips followed with run-scoring singles to right.

Phillips doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning against Tom Candiotti.

Jose Canseco singled home a run for Oakland in the first, but Cleveland tied it when Stewart allowed Joe Carter’s 34th home run in the fourth inning.