Scutaro, A's stun Rivera in ninth

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Even though he has a knack for game-winning hits, Marco Scutaro thought he had no chance.

Not against Mariano Rivera. Not with an .050 batting average this year.

Then, with one stunning swing against one of baseball's best closers, Scutaro gave the Oakland Athletics their first series victory of the season. He hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning, rallying the A's to a 5-4 win over the New York Yankees yesterday.

"I don't know about this one," Scutaro said. "I can't believe it still, against Mariano. I was just praying the ball didn't go foul. The way I'm feeling at the plate right now, the last thing I thought I was going to do is hit a home run."

The backup infielder drove an 0-2 pitch from Rivera (1-1) off the screen just inside the left-field foul pole for the eighth game-ending hit of his career and second winning homer.

"I wanted to go inside," Rivera said. "It was in and over the plate."

It was the fourth game-ending homer against Rivera, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Cleveland's Bill Selby hit a grand slam July 14, 2002, Boston's Bill Mueller had a two-run shot July 24, 2004, and Toronto's Vernon Wells hit a solo drive July 20, 2006.

"I was shocked," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

Rivera, who had his first blown save of the season, got two quick outs before Todd Walker singled for Oakland's first hit since the third inning. Jason Kendall then walked.

"Certain types of players are born for the dramatic, and Marco Scutaro is one," teammate Nick Swisher said.

The super sub, who had been slated to play shortstop, was in the lineup at second base as a last-minute fill-in for ailing Mark Ellis.

Oakland took two of three from the Yankees after failing to win its first three series. The first two games went to extra innings, taxing both bullpens.

Andy Pettitte overcame a rough start to pitch seven solid innings for the Yankees.

He outlasted Oakland righthander Rich Harden, who left with tightness in his pitching shoulder after allowing Alex Rodriguez's leadoff double to trigger a three-run seventh.

The A's will re-evaluate their No. 1 starter today, but he doesn't think the injury will keep him out.