NEW YORK -- New York Yankees third baseman Eric Chavez criticized the Oakland Athletics for excessive celebration after they hit three home runs in the top of the 13th inning of Saturday's game, but the A's felt that they were well within their rights to do so.

"Listen, we've got 17 rookies in here, you know?" said A's outfielder/designated hitter Jonny Gomes, who belted one of the three 13th-inning homers in Oakland's 10-9, 14-inning loss at Yankee Stadium. "I mean, these guys are playing the game to have fun, you know? These guys aren't playing the game to go to arbitration. These guys aren't playing the game for free agency. They're playing the game for fun, you know? And when you take fun out of the game, you're going to have 17 rookies crumble."

Chavez told the New York Post that Oakland's "orchestrated clapping, cheering celebration" was "high schoolish" and "pretty unprofessional."

"That's his business if he wants to come out and say things like that," A's catcher Derek Norris told ESPNNewYork.com. "We're going to play our game, and if nobody likes it, it just gives everybody another reason to hate us. It seems to be a common theme with us."