Kirk Saarloos, a scratch golfer and a pretty fair pitcher for the A’s, said he inherited his athletic prowess from his mother, Linda, who played softball and volleyball at Valley Christian High School in Cerritos.

Linda Saarloos stepped to the top of the mound and threw the ball a little high — but on a fly — to her son during the ceremonial first pitch at the team’s eighth annual Breast Cancer Awareness Day at McAfee Coliseum on Saturday.

“She practiced by throwing socks down the hall,” Kirk said. “She was athletic growing up.”

Saarloos was especially proud Saturday. His mother survived breast cancer when she underwent a double mastectomy in March 2005. She also beat colon cancer about 16 years ago.

“It means a lot to me and it means a lot to her,” Saarloos said. “This is a day to get people aware of breast cancer and the importance of early detection.”

The A’s announced they raised more than $100,000 for their event.

• Dan Haren’s early-inning struggles continued. He put the A’s in a 4-0 hole after three innings of a 6-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles that snapped the team’s 10-game home winning streak.

In his two previous starts, Haren allowed 11 of his 12 runs in the first three innings.

“I don’t know if it’s focus or something mental or physical,” he said. “Looking back I’ve put the team in a hole, and that’s something I don’t want to do.”

• Right-hander Rich Harden said there was little stiffness a day after he threw from the front slope of the mound for the first time since he suffered a sprained right-elbow ligament in early June. Harden also played catch Saturday before the game.

• First baseman Nick Swisher was out of the lineup for the first time since Aug. 4, but his rest day was short. He replaced Mark Kotsay in the fourth inning when Kotsay’s back problems flared.

• Third baseman Eric Chavez missed a second consecutive game because of a sprained right ankle. “When he says he’ll be ready, he’ll be in there,” Manager Ken Macha said.

• Closer Huston Street (strained right groin) is eligible to come off the disabled list today, but he’s not ready. “I thought he was very tentative the way he was driving off the mound,” Macha said of Street’s session Friday

Source: Mercury News

Inspirational fundraiser and terminal cancer sufferer Jane Tomlinson has been praised by Tony Blair as she entered the final week of her 4,200-mile Ride Across America for charity.

The mother of three received the Prime Minister’s best wishes in a hand-written letter delivered to her in Washington during the latest stage of her journey from San Francisco to New York.

Mrs Tomlinson, who has so far raised around £1.25 million through a series of challenges for charities, said she was now beginning to relax as she felt the end was in sight and she would be back with her family at her home in Rothwell, Leeds, next week.

In his letter, the Prime Minister wrote: “Dear Jane. Well done on all your fundraising efforts. It’s a fantastic achievement. Good luck, Tony Blair.”

Sitting outside the White House, Mrs Tomlinson said: “It’s good to be here. It’s symbolic for me that we’ve got here on the day that we needed to arrive in order to finish the ride on Friday.”

The 42-year-old was joined by around a dozen members of staff from the British Embassy in Washington for the latest leg of the ride.

“It’s been good that they could join me and give me a bit of company,” she said.

“The overwhelming feeling is one of relief. It’s relief that the end is in sight - I’ll be home with the rest of my family next week.”

Since being diagnosed with advanced metastatic breast cancer, Mrs Tomlinson has raised more than £1.25 million for a series of charities which help cancer patients and children.

Information on her appeal, including a ride diary and details of how to make a donation, can be found at www.janesappeal.com.

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