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OAKLAND, Calif. -- James Shields pitched quite a gem for Kansas City. It certainly helped that Oakland abandoned its usual patient approach at the plate. Shields pitched eight sharp innings for his first win in nearly a month, and the Royals beat the Athletics 4-2 on Sunday. "This team was a free-hacking team today, which is not really their game," Shields said. "They have a bunch of hitters over there that were being aggressive and I was able to execute my pitches early in the count." Shields retired his first 15 batters before Josh Reddick hit a leadoff homer in the sixth. Alberto Callaspo then had a one-out single before Sam Fuld lined into a double play. The 32-year-old Shields (10-6) allowed two runs and four hits. He walked none for the fifth time this season. "You watch the way that hes pitching, its like, OK boys, lets just give him a couple runs and hell take it from there," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. "A good indicator for him was he was managing his pitch count." Shields threw 102 pitches while helping the Royals to their ninth win in 12 games. "As far as Im concerned we can match up with anyone, any team, any starting rotation," Shields said. "As long as we go toe to toe with those guys were going to be in every game." Reddick homered twice, getting to Shields again in the eighth. The As have the best record in baseball at 67-43, but have sputtered offensively since trading cleanup hitter Yoenis Cespedes to Boston on Thursday in a deal for ace Jon Lester. They lead the stacked AL West by one game over the Los Angeles Angels, who beat Tampa Bay 7-5 on Sunday. Oakland was without injured leadoff hitter Coco Crisp, though it hardly mattered the way Shields was pitching. Shields allowed only three balls out of the infield through the first five innings. One of them was a deep fly to centre by Josh Donaldson in the first, the closest Oakland came to getting a man on base before Reddicks home run. "We just havent been our best offensively here," As manager Bob Melvin said. "Shields was using all his pitches, going to the change, to the cutter, and he had good command." Shields got his first win since he beat his former team, Tampa Bay, on July 7. Greg Holland pitched the ninth for his AL-leading 31st save. Nori Aokis RBI single in the fifth gave Kansas City a 1-0 lead. Omar Infante followed with a two-run double and later scored on a single by Salvador Perez. All the runs came against Scott Kazmir (12-4). Reddick has four home runs since coming off the disabled list July 22. Its the sixth multihomer game of his career and second this season. KAZMIRS STREAK AT HOME ENDS Kazmir lost at the Oakland Coliseum for just the second time this season. Its also the first time since June 24 that the left-hander allowed more than two earned runs. CLOSING IN ON 800 It was Yosts 798th win as a manager, moving him one ahead of Melvin for 76th on the career list. TRAINERS ROOM Athletics: Infielder Nick Punto was placed on the 15-day disabled list after he strained a hamstring rounding third base on Saturday. ... Crisp (neck) took swings in the batting cage but there is still no timetable for his return. Crisp has not played since July 26. ON DECK Royals: Left-hander Danny Duffy (5-10) pitches the series opener in Arizona on Tuesday. Duffys 2.42 ERA is the fourth-lowest in the AL among pitchers with at least 100 innings. Athletics: Right-hander Jeff Samardzija (2-1), who has allowed at least one home run in each of his previous four outings, starts against Tampa Bay on Monday. Cheap Philadelphia 76ers Jerseys .J. -- Omar Cummings helped the Houston Dynamo advance to the MLS Eastern Conference finals. Dana Barros Jersey . - Steve Stricker usually doesnt show up at a tournament on Sunday. http://www.cheap76ersjerseys.com/?tag=ch...cheeks-jersey.Y. Islanders 4Winnipeg 5 Dallas 2Nashville 3 Colorado 0San Jose 5 Edmonton 2---AHLProvidence 5 St. Johns 4 (OT)Chicago 6 San Antonio 2---NBACleveland 105 Toronto 101Portland 98 Detroit 86New Orleans 104 New York 93Oklahoma City 114 Milwaukee 101Memphis 114 Dallas 105Miami 103 Phoenix 97Utah 100 San Antonio 96L. Wholesale 76ers Jerseys . - Titans quarterback Jake Locker will miss the rest of the season with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot, leaving Tennessee trying to rally with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Markelle Fultz Jersey .com) - James Harden had 32 points, including a tying layup late in regulation, and the Houston Rockets scored eight of their 13 points in overtime at the foul line to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 117-111 on Friday night.Oklahoma City, OK (SportsNetwork.com) - Anthony Davis had 38 points and 12 rebounds as the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-99 on Sunday night. The Thunder regained possession with 10 seconds left following a Pelicans shot clock violation. Russell Westbrook got the ball at the top of the arc and dribbled to the left elbow before Jrue Holiday poked it away. Westbrook got it back at the 3-point line and rose for the triple from straightaway and the ball clanked off the front of the rim. Tyreke Evans came down with the rebound after Serge Ibakas tip attempt was off the mark to seal the outcome. Davis, who was 16-of-22 from the field, was coming off a 3-of-14 performance from the floor during New Orleans 114-88 blowout loss to Portland on Saturday night. Holiday posted 11 points, 15 assists and four steals, while Evans finished with 12 points, seven helpers and three steals for the Pelicans, who have won three of their last four games. It was a great character win for us, a lot of mental toughness was displayed, New Orleans coach Monty Williams said. Westbrook tallied 29 points and eight assists and Reggie Jackson netted 19 points off the bench for Oklahoma City, which has droppeed two of its last three games.dddddddddddd My jobs to stay in attack mode and try to score, Westbrook said. If I miss then I miss. Kevin Durant missed his second straight game since spraining his ankle Thursday against Golden State. He was out OKCs first 17 games with a fractured bone in his right foot. Steven Adams layup staked the Thunder to a 97-91 lead with 5:34 left, but New Orleans closed the game on a 10-2 run. Davis three-point play gave the Pelicans a 99-97 edge with 3:58 to go before Westbrook drove in for a layup at the other end to tie the game. Davis dunk with 2:58 remaining was the final two points by either team. The Thunder led 28-25 following a quarter of play, but New Orleans outscored them 28-20 in the second and took a 53-48 advantage into the break. Westbrook capped a 13-5 swing in the third with a layup to put the Thunder in front, 68-67, midway through the frame. OKC was up 81-76 going into the fourth. Game Notes New Orleans snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Thunder in Oklahoma City. The Pelicans havent won there since Jan. 6, 2010 ... The Thunder outrebounded the Pelicans 47-39 ... Adams had 12 points and 10 rebounds for OKC. ' ' '