AMERICAN LEAGUE Rookies Swisher, Crosby key A's to 5-4 verdict over Tribe

Their back-to-back homers in the eighth broke Oakland's five-game skid.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- While Nick Swisher grinned through a face full of shaving cream, Bobby Crosby quietly chuckled in the corner of the Oakland Athletics' clubhouse.
Swisher's first week in the big leagues had just been capped by a rookie hazing. Crosby is long past those first-year rituals -- but both rookies came through Saturday to stop the A's five-game losing streak.
Crosby and Swisher hit back-to-back homers in the eighth inning against Bob Howry, leading the A's to a 5-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
Oakland rallied from a four-run deficit in the final three innings to keep its AL West lead. It wouldn't have happened without the rookies, who stepped up to fill the hero's role occupied by Jason Giambi, Miguel Tejada and other veteran stars in Septembers past.
"We know we can't play like this is our first year," Crosby said. "If you're in the lineup, you've got to contribute, and it felt great to do that today."
Still lead division
With another bit of their customary late-season magic, the A's stayed on top of the division for at least one more day. The A's entered Saturday with just a one-game lead over the Anaheim Angels, who faced the Chicago White Sox later.
Scott Hatteberg had a two-run double for the A's, who appeared headed to their longest losing skid of the season after C.C. Sabathia held them scoreless through six innings. Travis Hafner hit a three-run homer in the seventh, staking Cleveland to a 4-0 lead.
"To say we needed that one would be an understatement," manager Ken Macha said. "Being down and battling back like we did will hopefully be a big boost for us."
Oakland put together a three-run rally in the seventh -- and with one out in the eighth, Crosby homered to left off Howry (1-1). Five pitches later, Swisher connected with his second homer of the season, a drive to right.
"I was lucky to get a pitch to hit," said Swisher, who reached base four times with a homer, a single and two walks. "It's been awesome just to get an opportunity to play as much as I have. I'm still nervous all the time, but it's been great."
Little in common
Aside from the genes they inherited from fathers who are former big-leaguers, Crosby and Swisher have very little in common.
Crosby, the AL Rookie of the Year favorite, has been a model of consistency while replacing Tejada.
Swisher made it to the majors just last week, and the brash outfielder immediately made an impression. He homered in his second big league game, and his spectacular diving catch Friday night immediately endeared him to Oakland fans.
"To say he's confident would be an understatement," Hatteberg said of Swisher. "That's an asset in this game. He's got as much as you need."
Oakland is easily the majors' best second-half team in the past five seasons, but the A's were on their longest losing streak after an All-Star break since 2000 -- the first year of their four straight trips to the postseason.
Sabathia has strong stint
Sabathia's 6 2/3 strong innings were wasted by the Indians, whose three-game winning streak ended. Oakland beat Cleveland for just the second time in eight meetings this season.
"They just stepped up late, so give them credit," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said.
Ricardo Rincon (1-0) got out of an eighth-inning jam for his first decision in 57 appearances this season.
Octavio Dotel pitched the ninth for his 19th save in 24 chances, with third baseman Eric Chavez making a leaping catch on Ben Broussard's liner to end it.
Rich Harden allowed seven hits and got seven strikeouts for the A's. The right-hander has lost just once in his last 14 starts, but he left trailing by four runs.
CLEVELANDOAKLAND
abrhbiabrhbi
Crisp cf4120Kotsay cf4020
Vizquel ss4010Byrnes rf3100
Lawton lf4121EChavz 3b3001
VMrtnz c4110Httberg 1b4012
Hafner dh3113DMiller c4010
Blake 3b4000Durazo dh3000
Brssrd 1b3010Crosby ss4111
Blliard 2b3000Swisher lf2221
Gerut rf3010Scutaro 2b4110
Totals32494Totals31585
Cleveland100000300--4
Oakland00000032x--5
E--DMiller (1). DP--Oakland 2. LOB--Cleveland 3, Oakland 8. 2B--Gerut (31), Kotsay (30), Hatteberg (28). HR--THafner (27), Crosby (19), Swisher (2). SB--Crisp 2 (18). CS--Vizquel (6), Kotsay (5).
IPHRERBBSO
Cleveland
Sabathia6 2-353363
Betancourt1-300000
Howry L,1-12-332201
JaDavis1-300000
Oakland
Harden674427
Mecir2-310001
RRincon W,1-01 1-310001
Dotel S,19100001
Harden pitched to 3 batters in the 7th. Umpires--Home, Greg Gibson; First, Larry Poncino; Second, Gerry Davis; Third, Bruce Dreckman. T--2:45. A--30,436.