A's get only two hits as skid reaches six

Associated Press Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, July 22, 2008 Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C3 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Scott Kazmir is an All-Star who's beginning to pitch like one again. Tampa Bay's ace won for the just the second time in his last eight starts, allowing a season-low two hits in seven innings of the Rays' 4-0 victory over the struggling Oakland Athletics on Monday night. "It feels great. I feel like it's long overdue," Kazmir (8-5) said after his first start since the All-Star break. "This is certainly something to build on, but it's just huge that we set the tone for the series with this win." After going 6-0 with an 0.88 ERA from May 10 to June 6, Kazmir was 1-4 with a 4.97 ERA over seven starts leading up to last Tuesday's All-Star game, which he won by pitching a scoreless 15th inning on one... [read full story]