By Kahlil Najar

OAKLAND – After a Derek Norris walk to lead off the top of the twelfth, Nick Punto smacked a double to left field that Melky Cabrera mishandled and scored Norris to give the A’s a 1-0 win to bring them to a 53-33 record on the year.

On his hit Punto said, ” (I was) Just hoping that D-No could get to third base there. Second and third with one out would have put us in a good position to win that game. Fortunately for us, it got by him (Cabrera).”

The game was pitch perfect the entire time until that error to end the game. Tommy Milone, who started the game for Oakland went six innings and struck out six and only walked one batter. The A’s then sent up a battery of relievers (six total) to secure the win for the A’s including Dan Otero who earned his seventh win of the year.

“I felt really good. Really from the beginning I was able to work the counts, go in and out, up and down when I needed to,” said Milone.

Head Coach Bob Melvin said, “All of the pitching today was fantastic. Once the starter comes out of the game, it’s a 0-0 game, you know you have to shut them down. They came in and did their job for the inning, passed the baton to the next guy.”

The attitude of the Coliseum and the players were the same – the knew they could win the game.

“I don’t know one guy that thinks we’re going to lose a game when we’re going to extra innings. We have that confidence, we have the track record, we’ve been able to get it done in the past, and I think that’s what helps us when we do get into extras,” said Milone.

The A’s continue to have the best record in the majors with 53 wins. The next best team in the league is the surprising Milwakee Brewers who have 51 wins. The A’s hope to extend their winning ways when they face the Jays again tomorrow when the A’s send up Scott Kazmir against Mark Buehrle.