OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Jack Cust's patience and penchant for power kept him from making a single out.
The Athletics enjoyed every moment of it as he hit two home runs and walked three times to help Oakland beat the Chicago White Sox 10-2 Saturday.
"Any time you're not heading straight back to the dugout you have to feel good," Cust said. "I've been able to lay off close pitches and get myself into good hitter's counts. I've been able to make last-minute adjustments with the ball on its way and that means you're seeing the ball longer."
Cust hit two home runs and drew three walks in a game for the first time in his career. Kurt Suzuki, who agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the A's Friday, added a homer of his own and helped the A's win for the eighth time in 10 games.
Daric Barton also drove in two runs, and Kevin Kouzmanoff doubled twice and drove in a run.
Freddy Garcia (9-4) lasted a career-low 1 1-3 innings and had his personal six-game winning streak snapped. He gave up five runs on six hits, walking three and striking out two as the White Sox lost for the fifth time in 17 games.
"He ran into trouble from the beginning," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Freddy has been great for us all year long. He was around the plate; he just got hit. I'll take that from him and move on."
Vin Mazzaro (6-2) gave up Ramon Castro's two-run homer in the second. He allowed three hits over six innings, walking three and striking out five.
"Young players usually get better and that's the case with Mazzaro," A's manager Bob Geren said. "He has better command of his pitches, his walks are down and his strikeout ratio is up. He got into trouble early and did a nice job of settling down."
Mazzaro, who won his fourth straight decision, retired 14 of his final 16 batters, and did not allow a hit after Castro's home run.
Sheets placed on disabled list
Right-hander Ben Sheets has been placed on the disabled list because of an injury to the elbow that required surgery in 2009 and forced him to miss that entire season.
Sheets had been pitching better over his last four starts, going 2-2 with an ERA of 3.38. The two-time all-star was put on the DL for the seventh time in his career. He has a strained right elbow.