By The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO – Pinch-hitter Antonio Perez drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the 14th inning, and the Oakland Athletics edged the San Diego Padres 6-5 Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep in a matchup of the top two teams out West.

After Oakland closer Huston Street squandered a two-run lead in the ninth, the A’s rallied against Scott Cassidy (4-4) without getting a hit. They had three walks, including one intentional, a hit batsman and a sacrifice.

Perez, hitting .082, got ahead of Cassidy 3-0. The right-hander threw two strikes, then missed outside to bring in Marco Scutaro, who drew a leadoff walk.

Ron Flores (1-1) held San Diego to one hit in four innings for the win.

Brewers 5, Cubs 4

CHICAGO – Spot starter Geremi Gonzalez worked five innings for the win and the Milwaukee Brewers sent Mark Prior to his third straight defeat by beating the Chicago Cubs 5-4 Thursday.

Gonzalez, who was 11-9 as a rookie with the Cubs in 1997 before arm problems derailed his career, made the most of his first start for the Brewers. He got the call when Doug Davis was scratched a day earlier with a tight back.

Blue Jays 8, Nationals 4

TORONTO – Roy Halladay won his 10th game and the Toronto Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals with an 8-4 victory Thursday night.

Lyle Overbay homered and Eric Hinske had three hits and three RBIs for the Blue Jays, who moved a season-high 10 games over .500 (44-34).

Phillies 4, Orioles 0

BALTIMORE – The Philadelphia Phillies ended their seven-game losing streak Thursday night, using an outstanding pitching performance by Ryan Madson to defeat the Baltimore Orioles 4-0.

Giants 2, Rangers 1

SAN FRANCISCO – Omar Vizquel’s go-ahead single with two outs in the eighth inning sent the San Francisco Giants to a 2-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Thursday, completing a three-game sweep.

Jason Ellison hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the Giants’ first run in the second and scored on Vizquel’s single to right off Francisco Cordero, who relieved Scott Feldman (0-2) after he allowed Ellison’s leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt by Eliezer Alfonzo.

Reds 6, Royals 5

CINCINNATI – Ken Griffey Jr. homered for the fourth straight game and Adam Dunn’s RBI double in the eighth inning gave the Cincinnati Reds a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.

Pirates 7, White Sox 6

SBURGH – Finally, the Pittsburgh Pirates walked off with a win.

Freddy Sanchez led off the ninth inning with a home run and the Pirates rallied to end a 13-game losing streak, their longest since 1900, by beating the Chicago White Sox 7-6 Thursday.