AL: OAKLAND (74-80) at CLEVELAND (90-62) <h3>Carmona, Indians aim for fourth straight win, face Athletics</h3> <div class="pre">Oakland (74-80) at Cleveland (90-62) 7:05 pm EDT</div> CLEVELAND (Ticker) - Fausto Carmona and the Cleveland Indianscan smell it. Carmona and the Indians aim for their fourth straight win whenthe club opens a three-game series vs. the Oakland Athletics onFriday. With a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, theIndians completed a three-game sweep and dropped their magicnumber to clinch the American League Central to three games. Itwould be the first division crown since 2001 for Cleveland. Carmona (17-8, 3.07 ERA) will be looking for his fourth straightvictory. The 23-year-old Dominican, who leads the American League in ERAand is 7-4 since the All-Star break, was magnificent in his lastouting, holding the Royals to only three hits in eight inningswhile striking out nine in 6-0 win on Saturday. However, the young righthander was shelled in his last start vs.Oakland, surrendering eight runs and seven hits before leavingwithout recording an out in the second inning of a 13-7 homeloss back on June 27. The Athletics counter with Joe Blanton (14-9, 3.78), who seekshis fourth straight win. The big righthander, who is 6-1 in nine outings since August 4,will be trying to win four straight starts for the second timein his four-year career. The 26-year-old last won four in a rowfrom June 15-29, 2005. Oakland, which has dropped four straight contests, will belooking to avoid losing five straight for the third time thisseason.
AL: OAKLAND (74-80) at CLEVELAND (90-62) <h3>Indians closing in on division title vs. Athletics</h3> <div class="pre">Oakland (74-81) at Cleveland (91-62) 7:05 pm EDT</div> CLEVELAND (Ticker) - The Cleveland Indians will try to move onestep closer to locking up the American League Central Divisiontitle when they host the Oakland Athletics in the middle game ofa three-game series on Saturday. The Indians magic number to clinch the division is two with theDetroit Tigers (84-70) sitting in second-place, 7 1/2 gamesback. Before Cleveland pops the cork on the champagne bottles, it willhave to solve Athletics ace Dan Haren (14-8, 3.12 ERA). Haren, who was named the American League starting pitcher in theAll-Star Game after posting a 10-3 record with a 2.30 ERA inthe first half of the season, has seen his fortunes flip in thesecond half, registering a 4-5 record with a 4.43 ERA -including losses in his last four decisions. During his last start, Haren allowed four runs - three earned -and 10 hits over eight innings. The 27-year-old righthanderstruck out six and walked one as the Athletics endured a 4-0loss at Seattle. The Indians will counter with Paul Byrd(15-6, 4.36), who has won five of his last seven starts. Byrd took a no-decision in his last start, surrendering fiveruns - four earned - and 10 hits over 7 1/3 innings as theIndians notched a 6-5 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday.
AL: OAKLAND (75-81) at CLEVELAND (91-63) <h3>Indians aim to clinch first playoff berth in six years</h3> <div class="pre">Oakland (75-81) at Cleveland (91-63) 1:05 pm EDT</div> CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians aim to punch theirticket to the postseason when they take on the Oakland Athleticsin the finale of a three-game set at Jacobs Field on Sundayafternoon. The Indians assured themselves of at least a tie for theAmerican League Central with the Detroit Tigers' loss to theKansas City Royals on Saturday night. They lead the Tigers(84-71) by 7 1/2 games in the division race. But Cleveland did not officially clinch its first postseasonberth since 2001, dropping a 9-3 decision to Oakland on Saturdaynight. Dan Haren won for the first time in a month and Nick Swisher hadthree hits and two RBI for the Athletics, who handed theIndians just their second loss in their last eight contests. On Sunday, Cleveland again will try to clinch playoff spotbehind Jake Westbrook (5-9, 4.41 ERA), who has not won sinceAugust 28. The 6-3 righthander yielded four runs and 12 hits infive innings but did not figure in the decision in a 7-4 winvs. Detroit last Tuesday. Westbrook will be opposed by rookie Dallas Braden (1-7, 6.41), who willbe making his first start since September 11. The righthander allowed just one hit while striking out andwalking three in 3 1/3 scoreless innings in his last two outings- both in relief. His last win in a starting role was onAugust 12. Oakland snapped a five-game losing streak with its win onSaturday.
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">OAKLAND AT CLEVELAND -- LINEUPS OAKLAND CLEVELAND AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Shannon Stewart LF .288 12 48 Grady Sizemore CF .272 24 76 Daric Barton 1B .320 1 4 Asdrubal Cabrera 2B .285 3 19 Nick Swisher CF .267 22 75 Travis Hafner DH .256 23 96 Jack Cust RF .263 26 82 Victor Martinez C .301 24 107 Mike Piazza DH .284 7 43 Ryan Garko 1B .293 20 59 Mark Ellis 2B .275 19 76 Jhonny Peralta SS .270 21 72 Jack Hannahan 3B .293 3 22 Jason Michaels LF .275 7 37 Rob Bowen C .300 2 5 Franklin Gutierrez RF .272 13 36 Donnie Murphy SS .207 5 18 Casey Blake 3B .267 18 73 Dallas Braden LHP (1-7, 6.41) Jake Westbrook RHP (5-9, 4.41)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND WARMUPS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN (1-7, 6.41) CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK (5-9, 4.41) UMPIRES: HP - LARRY VANOVER 1B - JAMES HOYE 2B - TONY RANDAZZO 3B - GREG GIBSON WEATHER: 72 Degrees, sunny WIND: 8 mph, in from right</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND STARTING BATS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN AND ROB BOWEN CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK AND VICTOR MARTINEZ DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.288, 12 HR, 48 RBI) D BARTON (.320, 1 HR, 4 RBI) N SWISHER (.267, 22 HR, 75 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 1 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.272, 24 HR, 76 RBI) A CABRERA (.285, 3 HR, 19 RBI) T HAFNER (.256, 23 HR, 96 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289 D Barton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .267 J Cust rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Piazza dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 R Bowen c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 D Murphy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .207 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 BATTING: GIDP - D Barton. Team LOB - 0. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 A Cabrera 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285 T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 V Martinez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Cabrera-J Peralta-R Garko). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 0 -- 0 CLEVELAND - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Braden 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.41 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Westbrook 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.38 Pitches-strikes: J Westbrook 14-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J Westbrook 2-0. Batters faced: J Westbrook 3. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Greg Gibson. Weather: 72 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND CONFIRMED STARTERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 1 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.263, 26 HR, 82 RBI) M PIAZZA (.284, 7 HR, 43 RBI) M ELLIS (.275, 19 HR, 76 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS CLEVELAND (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289 D Barton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .267 J Cust rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Piazza dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 R Bowen c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 D Murphy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .207 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 BATTING: GIDP - D Barton. Team LOB - 0. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273 A Cabrera 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .255 V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301 R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 BATTING: S - A Cabrera. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - V Martinez 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Cabrera-J Peralta-R Garko). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 0 -- 0 CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Braden 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 6.31 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Westbrook 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.38 Pitches-strikes: D Braden 10-7; J Westbrook 14-10. Ground balls-fly balls: D Braden 2-0; J Westbrook 2-0. Batters faced: D Braden 4; J Westbrook 3. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Greg Gibson. Weather: 72 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 0 1 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: R GARKO (.293, 20 HR, 59 RBI) J PERALTA (.270, 21 HR, 72 RBI) J MICHAELS (.275, 7 HR, 37 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289 D Barton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .267 J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Piazza dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .284 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 R Bowen c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 D Murphy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .207 Totals 5 0 1 0 1 1 2 BATTING: GIDP - D Barton, M Ellis. Team LOB - 0. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273 A Cabrera 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .255 V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301 R Garko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 BATTING: S - A Cabrera. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - V Martinez 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 2 (A Cabrera-J Peralta-R Garko, J Westbrook-J Peralta-R Garko). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 00 -- 0 CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Braden 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 6.31 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Westbrook 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.35 Pitches-strikes: D Braden 10-7; J Westbrook 22-14. Ground balls-fly balls: D Braden 2-0; J Westbrook 5-0. Batters faced: D Braden 4; J Westbrook 6. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Greg Gibson. Weather: 72 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE GROUND OUT BY JASON MICHAELS SCORED RYAN GARKO. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J PERALTA ON THIRD, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 0 CLEVELAND 1 BOTTOM, 2ND DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: F GUTIERREZ (.272, 13 HR, 36 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY GRADY SIZEMORE SCORED JHONNY PERALTA. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, G SIZEMORE ON FIRST, F GUTIERREZ ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 0 CLEVELAND 2 BOTTOM, 2ND DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: A CABRERA (.285, 0-FOR-0, SAC)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 0 1 0 CLEVELAND 0 2 2 3 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J HANNAHAN (.293, 3 HR, 22 RBI) R BOWEN (.300, 2 HR, 5 RBI) D MURPHY (.207, 5 HR, 18 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS CLEVELAND (2) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289 D Barton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .267 J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Piazza dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .284 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293 R Bowen c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 D Murphy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .207 Totals 5 0 1 0 1 1 2 BATTING: GIDP - D Barton, M Ellis. Team LOB - 0. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 .274 A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .283 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .255 V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301 R Garko 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .293 J Peralta ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .271 J Michaels lf 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 .274 F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .272 C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .266 Totals 8 2 3 2 2 3 8 BATTING: S - A Cabrera. RBI - J Michaels (38), G Sizemore (77). 2-out RBI - G Sizemore. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - V Martinez 1, A Cabrera 1. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: DP: 2 (A Cabrera-J Peralta-R Garko, J Westbrook-J Peralta-R Garko). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 00 -- 0 CLEVELAND - 02 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Braden 2 3 2 2 2 3 0 6.49 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Westbrook 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.35 WP - D Braden. Pitches-strikes: D Braden 34-20; J Westbrook 22-14. Ground balls-fly balls: D Braden 3-0; J Westbrook 5-0. Batters faced: D Braden 11; J Westbrook 6. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Greg Gibson. Weather: 72 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 1 0 CLEVELAND 0 2 2 3 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T HAFNER (.255, 0-FOR-1) V MARTINEZ (.301, 0-FOR-1) R GARKO (.293, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS CLEVELAND (2) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .289 D Barton 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .314 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .267 J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Piazza dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .284 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274 J Hannahan 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 R Bowen c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .293 D Murphy ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .205 Totals 8 0 1 0 1 3 2 BATTING: GIDP - D Barton, M Ellis. Team LOB - 0. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 .274 A Cabrera 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .283 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .255 V Martinez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .301 R Garko 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .293 J Peralta ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .271 J Michaels lf 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 .274 F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .272 C Blake 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .266 Totals 8 2 3 2 2 3 8 BATTING: S - A Cabrera. RBI - J Michaels (38), G Sizemore (77). 2-out RBI - G Sizemore. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - V Martinez 1, A Cabrera 1. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: DP: 2 (A Cabrera-J Peralta-R Garko, J Westbrook-J Peralta-R Garko). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 000 -- 0 CLEVELAND - 02 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Braden 2 3 2 2 2 3 0 6.49 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Westbrook 3 1 0 0 1 3 0 4.32 WP - D Braden. Pitches-strikes: D Braden 34-20; J Westbrook 34-22. Ground balls-fly balls: D Braden 3-0; J Westbrook 5-1. Batters faced: D Braden 11; J Westbrook 9. UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Greg Gibson. Weather: 72 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 1 0 CLEVELAND 0 2 0 2 3 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN CLE - JAKE WESTBROOK DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.289, 1-FOR-1) D BARTON (.314, 0-FOR-1) N SWISHER (.267, 0-FOR-1)</div>
