Athletics right-hander Jesse Chavez became the latest victim Wednesday of the inability of closer Jim Johnson to close.
Chavez pitched his second fine game, yielding just one run on six hits in seven innings with no walks and nine strikeouts. But Johnson blew a three-run lead in the ninth and forced his team to win it in extra innings. Chavez has given up just two earned runs in 13 innings this season with 13 strikeouts. He will try again for his first win Monday against the Angels.