SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Tim Hudson pitched eight strong innings and Eric Chavez and Erubiel Durazo hit two-run homers as the Oakland Athletics ended a six-game losing streak with a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
Five days after having a personal nine-game winning streak snapped, Hudson (2-1) allowed one run and five singles. He threw 66 of 92 pitches for strikes and fanned seven before Keith Foulke worked the ninth for his fourth save.
Oakland ended its longest skid in just over two years with Hudson's ninth career victory over Seattle. The Athletics had not dropped six in a row since a seven-game slide from April 8-15, 2001.
"Right now, any win is a big win for us," Hudson said. "We were on a six-game skid. So it was nice to come out with a win tonight."
"We knew we've been getting smoked the last couple of games," Chavez added. "All the pitchers know every game is important, and we've got to get back on the winning side of the ball."
In a pair of outings against Seattle, Hudson has given up one run and 10 hits in 16 innings with two walks and 11 strikeouts.
"He kept the ball down today," Mariners center fielder Mike Cameron said. "He was able to locate his fastball and keep it down in the zone. We don't see him for a while, so that will be good."
Chavez staked the righthander to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning with his third homer against the Mariners this season, a shot off Freddy Garcia. Hitless in his previous 12 at-bats, Durazo padded the lead in the ninth with a home run off Giovanni Carrara.
Hudson's gem snapped Seattle's four-game winning streak.
Despite allowing just two runs and four hits in seven-plus innings, Garcia (1-3) lost to Hudson for the second time this season. He also was beaten on Opening Day in Oakland.
Chavez, who had been in a 9-for-39 slump, homered down the right field line.
Staked to a two-run lead before throwing a pitch, Hudson ran into trouble in the fourth when John Olerud's single scored Randy Winn. But with runners at the corners, Hudson faked a throw to third and picked off Olerud at first.
Seattle manager Bob Melvin argued with plate umpire Angel Hernandez, contending Hudson balked.
"He fooled me," Olerud said. "It looked like he was going home. It doesn't really matter what type of move he has, I can't get picked off like that. I'm not trying to steal, I'm just going into my secondary lead. It's inexcusable for me to get picked off."
Hudson threw ball three just twice, both times against Mark McLemore.
"He's a tough at-bat," Olerud said. "He's got a good fastball, changeup and split-finger. He can throw his pitches at any time and locates them real well, in and out."
