Rogers, A's Squeak By Dodgers

Getting base runners on wasn't the problem for the Los Angeles Dodgers. They just kept missing the chance to get them home.

Kenny Rogers struggled but still won his 16th straight decision at Oakland, benefiting from four double plays, including one on a disputed call, as the Athletics beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 Saturday.

Tony Phillips and Olmedo Saenz each homered in helping the A's become the first AL team to win 20 home games. The loss was the fifth in six games for the Dodgers (29-31), who fell to a season-low two games below .500.

"That's the problem. That's where the issue is, if you try to look at why the game went one way or the other," Karros said.

Rogers got out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the second when he got Angel Pena to ground into the disputed double play. Adrian Beltre, who had reached on an error, slid hard past second base, upending Phillips.

Second base umpire John Shulock called the double play with Phillips never having to throw the ball.

Dodgers manager Davey Johnson argued the double play shouldn't be called because Phillips' didn't make the throw to first but his protest was ignored.

When a reporter asked Johnson about what he termed the "phantom" double play, Johnson replied, "You said it right there."

"This was another one that was tough to take," Johnson added. "We didn't do the things we were capable of doing. There were not real heads-up stuff out there."

Phillips said he wouldn't criticize Beltre.

"It was clean. It was hard. That's the way you're supposed to play," Phillips said. "But I wouldn't get a guy like that who had his back turned."

Oakland manager Art Howe said he thought it was a good call.

"He went in there awfully hard and almost ended up in left field," Howe said. "If he went into the bag, it would have been a different story."

Rogers was grateful for that double play and the ones that followed.

"That was the key," Rogers said. "It worked out great. It was just one of those days for me. I struggled a little bit and I just made enough quality pitches to get through the game. I didn't dominant anybody."

Rogers (4-2) allowed two runs and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings. It was his fourth straight win this season, including a 3-0 mark with a 3.60 ERA in five starts at home. He hasn't lost at Oakland since Aug. 7, 1994, when he dropped an 8-3 decision to the A's while with Texas.

Ismael Valdes (5-5) allowed four runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings in losing his third straight decision.

Karros broke a tie with his second homer in as many days, connecting in the sixth off Rogers for his 10th of the season.

But the A's regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Ben Grieve singled, John Jaha doubled and Matt Stairs was walked intentionally to load the bases.

Eric Chavez followed with a single to right, scoring Grieve.

Outfielder Raul Mondesi bobbled the ball before getting a handle on it and throwing it toward home but first baseman Karros cut it off and Jaha scored unimpeded. Mondesi was charged with an error on the play but it was Karros who slumped to his knees after the play, mad at himself for cutting off a throw that could have gotten the slow-moving Jaha at the plate.

Phillips connected for his 12th homer of the season, leading off the seventh.

Billy Taylor pitched the ninth for his 16th save. He allowed a sacrifice fly to Eric Young, before getting Jose Vizcaino to ground out with the tying run on first.

Saenz' hit his third home run of the season in the second.

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