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Perhaps fittingly on the last day of the season, Tim Hudson got a no-decision. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

A day after Oakland's bullpen put a black bow on its disappointing season by coughing up a two-run lead in the eighth inning to hand the Angels the American League West title, Tim Hudson, the King of No-Decisions, got another one despite seven innings of four-hit work.

Rookie Nick Swisher's RBI single in the eighth inning allowed the A's to end the season on a positive note, though, as they secured a 3-2 victory over the visiting Angels in front of 33,640 fans at Network Associates Coliseum.

"You obviously play for the fans on a day like today, but to know it's the last game of the season stinks," said Hudson, who got a no-decision on Opening Night, finished with eight on the year and has 29 over the past three seasons. "Today was for the fans more than anything."

The Angels took a 2-0 lead with one out in the third inning when Alfredo Amezega doubled and scored on a triple by Jeff DaVanon in front of an RBI single by Curtis Pride, but Hudson was otherwise brilliant for the A's, striking out six without a walk over seven innings.

"Huddy had a great performance out there," said A's manager Ken Macha. "But it was a little bit of a tough day for everyone. We got a win, but you have a little sinking feeling about what could have been."

Actually, it could have been a loss for Hudson, because Angels starter Aaron Sele cruised through the first six innings. But this game was a bit of a break from Hudson's pattern of frustration over the past few years. Six times this year -- and 18 times since the start of the 2001 season -- he left a game with the lead only to watch the bullpen blow save after save.

A two-run double by Adam Melhuse in the eighth off Angels reliever and former A's farmhand Kevin Gregg got Hudson off the hook after a single by Swisher and a double by free-agent-to-be Jermaine Dye.

Dye, likely playing in his last game with the A's, went 3-for-3 finale and received a standing ovation when he was lifted for a pinch-runner after the double.

"It was nice that he got a little bit of a hand," Macha said. "His teammates all appreciated it, too. It was nice to see him have a big day."

"He's been a class act every since he got here," Hudson said of Dye, who wasn't available to comment after the game. "He's been a great players for us. He was a favorite in the clubhouse, and I'm sure he'll be a favorite in the clubhouse wherever he plays next year."

Eric Byrnes got the game-winning rally going with a leadoff walk in the eighth. He stole second, took third on a foul flyout by Bobby Crosby and scored on Swisher's single to left.

Justin Duchscherer, who threw two shutout innings behind Hudson, got the win.

"Obviously, everyone in here's a little let down," Hudson said. "But a win is a win."

Mychael Urban is a national writer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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