Yankees beat A's 4-3 in 12th after Molina hit by pitch

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Derek Jeter watched New York Yankees team mate Jose Molina get hit by a pitch and breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Molina's pain, endured with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 12th inning, brought Jeter home from third to give the Yankees a 4-3 win over the Oakland Athletics.

"I've never been so happy to see someone get hit," Jeter told reporters. "I really don't think I would've scored if he hit it anywhere else. I was too tired."

Molina had replaced catcher Jorge Posada in the 10th and ground out with his first chance to win the game. However, in his next at bat, Oakland relief pitcher Lenny DiNardo plunked him with the ball to bring Jeter home.

The Athletics blew the chance to win the game in the ninth inning with a 3-2 lead but reliever Huston Street could not close the door.

New York first baseman Wilson Betemit delivered a clutch two-out single to force extra innings.

"I guess if I could have the pitch back I would have bounced it instead of throwing it at his ankles," said Street of Betemit's 0-2 hit. "I tip my hat. He put a pretty good swing on what I thought was a good pitch."

Both teams received quality efforts from their starting pitchers.

The Athletics' Sean Gallagher went five innings and struck out seven while allowing two runs.

Joba Chamberlain pitched six innings, allowing one run and striking out eight for the Yankees (52-45), who have won three of their last four.

The Athletics (51-46) have lost four in a row and will try to avoid being swept by New York on Sunday.

(Reporting by Jahmal Corner; Editing by Peter Rutherford)