AMERICAN LEAGUE Athletics' Hudson back on track

Terrence Long hit an inside-the-park home run against the Yankees.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Tim Hudson will be able to relax watching the rematch between Barry Zito and Roger Clemens.
The Oakland right-hander broke a string of three straight no-decisions to win for the first time since April 16, leading the Athletics over the New York Yankees 7-2 on Friday night.
"It's been a while," Hudson said. "I was definitely ready to get a decision, win or loss. The way it was going, I would have taken the loss."
Dramatic hit
Terrence Long's inside-the-park homer capped a five-run eighth inning as the A's won for the 11th time in 14 games to improve to a season-best nine games over .500.
The defending AL West champions took two of three games last week at Yankee Stadium.
Long had six 20-ounce bottles of a sports drink waiting for him on his clubhouse chair. He had never hit an inside-the-park homer in his life.
"I'm going to drink them, all six," he said. "I was tired. I gave out halfway from third to home. Somebody got on my back and I don't know who it was."
Oakland spoiled a solid outing by Yankees starter Jeff Weaver (2-2), who allowed two runs in seven innings before falling apart in the eighth.
Mark Ellis led off with a single and went to second on Scott Hatteberg's sacrifice bunt. Hatteberg had to be reminded by Eric Chavez of the bunt sign because the A's do it so rarely; it was just their sixth of the year.
Chavez then singled to center to give the A's a 3-2 lead. One out later, Erubiel Durazo walked and Ramon Hernandez followed with a two-run double to knock out Weaver.
Long then hit a sinking liner to center field against Chris Hammond. Bernie Williams charged and made a diving attempt, but the ball went by him and rolled all the way to the wall.
Long, who jogged out of the batter's box, turned it on after the ball got by Williams and easily beat the relay home.
"I had to take a gamble," Williams said. "I can't let that ball fall in front of me with two outs."
Winner
Hudson (3-1) allowed two runs and five hits in eight innings to beat the Yankees for the first time in six regular season starts.
Hudson, reigning AL Cy Young winner Zito and Mark Mulder are a combined 13-4 in 22 starts this year. The Yankees were scheduled to face all three this weekend.
"It's going to be a joy to watch," Hudson said of his teammates facing the Yankees. "I'm glad I got a win so I can enjoy it a little more. If I was stuck at 2-1 right now it wouldn't be too fun for me."
Jason Giambi, battling a sore left knee and staph infections in both eyes, hit a two-run homer in the fourth off Hudson that landed above the scoreboard in left field and tied it at 2.
The slugger didn't seem distracted by his ailments or the unfriendly welcome from the Coliseum crowd of 40,317 that used to root for him.
Hearing the boos
Giambi was booed before batting practice even began and then every time he stepped to the plate. He returned to Oakland for the second time since signing a $120 million, seven-year contract with the Yankees after the 2001 season.
"I ended up getting a pitch to hit from Huddy I could handle and other than that he threw a beautiful game," Giambi said. "That one inning got away from us. I love hitting at this stadium. I spent a lot of time here."
Hideki Matsui had two infield singles to extend his hitting streak to 10 games but the Yankees couldn't generate near the offense they had in a 16-5 win in Seattle on Thursday.
Eric Byrnes hit a run-scoring triple in the third for a 1-0 lead and then scored on Chris Singleton's groundout.
Weaver allowed six runs and seven hits in 72/3 innings.