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Moss homers in 10th to lift A's over Yankees

NEW YORK (AP) Sean Doolittle wasn't surprised at all by the Oakland A's offensive outburst in the 10th inning.

Brandon Moss hit his second homer of the game leading off the 10th, and the Oakland Athletics rallied for a 5-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.

The major's best run-producing offense then got an RBI double from Jed Lowrie and a run-scoring single from Kyle Blanks to open a big lead for Oakland's suspect back end of the bullpen.

''The way the guys were swinging in the 10th inning, it was like they could smell the victory and found a way to get it done,'' the A's reliever said. ''That's typical Oakland A's baseball.''

Returning to the lineup after missing two games with a strained right calf, Moss drilled a full-count pitch from Adam Warren (1-3) into the second deck down the right field line for his 15th homer. That gave the AL West-leading A's their first lead in a game that was delayed more than an hour at the start by rain.

''We have a very confident offense,'' Moss said.

Doolittle finished off the A's fourth straight win with a perfect 10th for his sixth save. The left-hander extended his scoreless streak to 15 1-3 innings.

Dan Otero (5-1) pitched an inning for the A's, who improved to 7-13 when trailing after seven innings.

Pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt hit a tying double off Dellin Betances with two outs in the eighth inning. Betances walked Albert Callaspo before Vogt drilled a full-count pitch into the right-center gap.

''That at-bat was incredible ... because Betances, he is a really good reliever,'' Moss said. ''I felt like that pretty much did it for us.''

Betances had not walked a batter over his previous 10 appearances (15 1-3 innings).

''I felt good. I just think the two out walk hurt, I had him in my head and I just did not put him away,'' Betances said. ''I think from there I just fell behind on Vogt and just threw him a good pitch to hit. I think Callaspo, that at-bat was more frustrating.''

The injury-depleted Yankees came in looking hardly like the Bronx Bombers they are expected to be. With an opening-day payroll about $120 million more than the A's, New York had hit just five homers in 15 games and none in the two Mark Teixeira sat with inflammation in his surgically repaired right wrist.

Teixeira, though, woke up pain-free Tuesday and manager Joe Girardi made the switch-hitter the cleanup batter. Teixeira drove in New York's two runs, homering in the sixth for a 2-1 lead.

''He said he was fine,'' Girardi said. ''You know you kind of keep your fingers crossed and hope he feels good tomorrow.''

In contrast, Moss' drive off Hiroki Kuroda into Monument Park leading off the fifth gave the slugging A's at least one long ball in 11 straight games.

A rainbow arcing high above the scoreboard in center field before the rain-delayed first pitch appeared to be a good omen for New York, which grabbed a quick lead.

Scott Kazmir needed four batters to warm up after a storm pushed back the start 1 hour, 12 minutes. Brett Gardner singled leading off. After Derek Jeter struck out, Jacoby Ellsbury singled and Teixeira dunked a blooper inside the right field line for a 1-0 lead.

After that, Kazmir retired 16 of 17 - including four Ks in a row - before Teixeira sent a drive into the A's bullpen in left-center for his 10th homer - the second swinging from the right side - and a 2-1 lead.

''He just ran out of pitches,'' Melvin explained why he lifted Kazmir when he did.

NOTES: The A's improved to 11-3 against New York since July 19, 2012. ... Ellsbury has committed $1 million to Oregon State, where he played from 2003-05. The money will go to help with the expansion of the baseball team's locker room facilities. ... The Yankees claimed off waivers LHP Wade LeBlanc from the Los Angeles Angels. ... New York OF Carlos Beltran (bone spur in right elbow) went 2 for 3 with a walk as the designated hitter in an extended spring training game in Tampa, Florida. Girardi said it was possible that Beltran could rejoin the Yankees on Friday in Kansas City. ... The Athletics put OF Josh Reddick on the 15-day DL because of a hyperextended right knee. ... Up next: Oakland's Jesse Chavez (4-3) faces New York's Vidal Nuno (1-2).