Looper said he felt something during the third inning, but managed to get through the fourth allowing an unearned run.

“That’s about the weirdest inning I’ve ever pitched,” Looper said. “I felt great and was locating the ball. It was pretty frustrating the way it transpired. That many runs in an inning is frustrating. It kept getting worse and then it was like a toothache; always there.”

Even as Cavazos was pitching, La Russa had made the decision to use Spiezio. The Cardinals’ last four losses have been by six or more and they’ve dropped 18 games by at least five runs. St. Louis has allowed at least eight runs in five of its last seven games.

“They had already scored enough,” La Russa said. “I’m pleased it didn’t turn into a big crooked number which would have made it a real farce. It was already a tough enough loss. He threw three outs.”

Spiezio became the first Cardinals position player to pitch since Cody McKay on April 8, 2004.

“He told me in the seventh to go out and warm up,” Spiezio said. “When he approached me I thought I was going to pinch hit or play in the field. They told me to throw nothing but fastballs. Tony told me to go out there and have some fun. I haven’t done it since high school.”

Juan Encarnacion extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a leadoff single in the second. Chris Duncan followed with an RBI double and two outs later Aaron Miles singled home a run to put the Cardinals up 2-0.

The A’s also batted around in the seventh, with Johnson’s homer the big shot. Kotsay drove in two and Swisher singled in a run.

Notes: The A’s agreed to terms with five more players from the June draft: RHP Travis Banwart, 1B Dan Hamblin, SS Michael Richard, LHP Aaron Jenkins and OF Herbert Hudson. ... A’s INF Donnie Murphy was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for RHP Ruddy Lugo, who was claimed off waivers Thursday. ... The A’s recorded their 8,000th franchise victory.

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