AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">OAKLAND (3) VS CLEVELAND (4) - FINAL OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 5 0 1 0 0 1 3 .286 D Barton 1b 4 1 2 0 1 1 1 .326 J Cust rf 4 1 1 2 1 3 2 .261 D Johnson dh 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .234 M Ellis 2b 4 0 0 0 0 3 4 .272 J Hannahan 3b 3 1 0 0 1 1 2 .288 M Scutaro ss 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .263 K Suzuki c 4 0 1 1 0 2 1 .255 J DaVanon cf 3 0 1 0 0 2 1 .238 a-M Piazza ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 Totals 35 3 8 3 4 13 16 a-flied out to center for J Davanon in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - D Barton 2 (6, F Carmona, R Perez). HR - J Cust (25, 7th inning off R Perez 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - K Suzuki (37), J Cust 2 (80). 2-out RBI - K Suzuki. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 1, S Stewart 2, J Hannahan 1. Team LOB - 9. FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Ellis-M Scutaro-D Barton). CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 3 0 1 0 1 2 0 .272 A Cabrera 2b 3 1 1 1 0 0 3 .288 T Hafner dh 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .252 V Martinez c 4 0 1 1 0 0 2 .302 R Garko 1b 4 1 1 1 0 1 1 .293 J Peralta ss 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 .272 K Lofton lf 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .299 F Gutierrez rf 3 0 1 0 1 1 1 .272 C Blake 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 .265 Totals 31 4 10 4 3 6 13 BATTING: 2B - V Martinez (40, J Blanton); J Peralta (27, J Blanton). HR - R Garko (20, 6th inning off J Blanton 0 on, 0 Out), J Peralta (21, 6th inning off J Blanton 0 on, 0 Out). S - C Blake. SF - A Cabrera. RBI - V Martinez (107), R Garko (59), J Peralta (72), A Cabrera (19). 2-out RBI - V Martinez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Hafner 1, C Blake 3, R Garko 1. GIDP - V Martinez. Team LOB - 8. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 010 000 200 -- 3 CLEVELAND - 001 003 00x -- 4 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton (L, 14-10) 5 2/3 10 4 4 3 4 2 3.84 J Blevins 1 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.70 R Lugo 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.48 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era F Carmona (W, 18-8) 6 5 1 1 4 7 0 3.03 R Perez (H, 11) 2/3 2 2 2 0 1 1 1.71 J Lewis (H, 3) 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.49 R Betancourt (H, 29) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.44 J Borowski (S, 43) 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 4.96 IBB - G Sizemore (by J Blanton). Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 106-59; J Blevins 19-11; R Lugo 8-6; F Carmona 106-65; R Perez 17-11; J Lewis 5-4; R Betancourt 11-9; J Borowski 14-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 9-4; J Blevins 1-3; R Lugo 0-1; F Carmona 7-4; R Perez 0-1; J Lewis 0-0; R Betancourt 0-1; J Borowski 0-1. Batters faced: J Blanton 29; J Blevins 5; R Lugo 2; F Carmona 27; R Perez 4; J Lewis 1; R Betancourt 3; J Borowski 4. UMPIRES: HP--Tony Randazzo. 1B--Greg Gibson. 2B--Larry Vanover. 3B--James Hoye. T--2:48. Att--36,016. Weather: 78 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 5 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND (3) AT CLEVELAND (4) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND 2ND: D Johnson grounded out to second. M Ellis struck out swinging. J Hannahan walked. M Scutaro singled to left, J Hannahan to second. K Suzuki singled to center, J Hannahan scored, M Scutaro to second. J DaVanon singled to left, M Scutaro to third, K Suzuki to second. S Stewart grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J DaVanon out at second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 0. CLEVELAND 3RD: G Sizemore singled to right. A Cabrera grounded into fielder's choice to second, G Sizemore out at second. T Hafner grounded out to pitcher, A Cabrera to second. V Martinez doubled to deep right center, A Cabrera scored. R Garko grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 1. CLEVELAND 6TH: R Garko homered to left. J Peralta homered to right. K Lofton singled to right center. F Gutierrez singled to center, K Lofton to second. C Blake sacrificed to catcher, K Lofton to third, F Gutierrez to second. G Sizemore intentionally walked. A Cabrera hit sacrifice fly to left, K Lofton scored. J Blevins relieved J Blanton. T Hafner lined out to first. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 4. OAKLAND 7TH: R Perez relieved F Carmona. S Stewart struck out swinging. D Barton doubled to right. J Cust homered to left, D Barton scored. D Johnson flied out to center. J Lewis relieved R Perez. M Ellis struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, CLEVELAND 4.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND (3) AT CLEVELAND (4) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND 2ND: D Johnson grounded out to second. M Ellis struck out swinging. J Hannahan walked. M Scutaro singled to left, J Hannahan to second. K Suzuki singled to center, J Hannahan scored, M Scutaro to second. J DaVanon singled to left, M Scutaro to third, K Suzuki to second. S Stewart grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J DaVanon out at second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 0. CLEVELAND 3RD: G Sizemore singled to right. A Cabrera grounded into fielder's choice to second, G Sizemore out at second. T Hafner grounded out to pitcher, A Cabrera to second. V Martinez doubled to deep right center, A Cabrera scored. R Garko grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 1. CLEVELAND 6TH: R Garko homered to left. J Peralta homered to right. K Lofton singled to right center. F Gutierrez singled to center, K Lofton to second. C Blake sacrificed to catcher, K Lofton to third, F Gutierrez to second. G Sizemore intentionally walked. A Cabrera hit sacrifice fly to left, K Lofton scored. J Blevins relieved J Blanton. T Hafner lined out to first. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 4. OAKLAND 7TH: R Perez relieved F Carmona. S Stewart struck out swinging. D Barton doubled to right. J Cust homered to left, D Barton scored. D Johnson flied out to center. J Lewis relieved R Perez. M Ellis struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, CLEVELAND 4.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND (3) AT CLEVELAND (4) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oakland Starting Lineups -- S Stewart LF, D Barton 1B, J Cust RF, D Johnson DH, M Ellis 2B, J Hannahan 3B, M Scutaro SS, K Suzuki C, J DaVanon CF, J Blanton RHP. Cleveland Starting Lineups -- G Sizemore CF, A Cabrera 2B, T Hafner DH, V Martinez C, R Garko 1B, J Peralta SS, K Lofton LF, F Gutierrez RF, C Blake 3B, F Carmona RHP. Umpires -- Tony Randazzo (HP), Greg Gibson (1B), Larry Vanover (2B), James Hoye (3B). Gametime Weather: 78 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind out to center at 5 mph. OAKLAND 1ST: S Stewart lined out to left. D Barton grounded out to first. J Cust struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, CLEVELAND 0. CLEVELAND 1ST: G Sizemore struck out looking. A Cabrera flied out to left. T Hafner struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, CLEVELAND 0. OAKLAND 2ND: D Johnson grounded out to second. M Ellis struck out swinging. J Hannahan walked. M Scutaro singled to left, J Hannahan to second. K Suzuki singled to center, J Hannahan scored, M Scutaro to second. J DaVanon singled to left, M Scutaro to third, K Suzuki to second. S Stewart grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J DaVanon out at second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 0. CLEVELAND 2ND: V Martinez grounded out to first. R Garko popped out to second. J Peralta walked. K Lofton reached on bunt single to catcher, J Peralta to second. F Gutierrez walked, J Peralta to third, K Lofton to second. C Blake grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, F Gutierrez out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 0. OAKLAND 3RD: D Barton walked. J Cust walked, D Barton to second. D Johnson flied out to center. M Ellis struck out swinging. J Hannahan grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 0. CLEVELAND 3RD: G Sizemore singled to right. A Cabrera grounded into fielder's choice to second, G Sizemore out at second. T Hafner grounded out to pitcher, A Cabrera to second. V Martinez doubled to deep right center, A Cabrera scored. R Garko grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 1. OAKLAND 4TH: M Scutaro grounded out to shortstop. K Suzuki struck out swinging. J DaVanon struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 1. CLEVELAND 4TH: J Peralta doubled to deep left. K Lofton grounded out to pitcher, J Peralta to third. F Gutierrez fouled out to third. C Blake struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 1. OAKLAND 5TH: S Stewart popped out to second. D Barton doubled to deep right. J Cust struck out looking. D Johnson walked. M Ellis grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, D Johnson out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 1. CLEVELAND 5TH: G Sizemore struck out swinging. A Cabrera singled to center. T Hafner singled to right, A Cabrera to third. V Martinez grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, T Hafner out at second.(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 1. OAKLAND 6TH: J Hannahan grounded out to second. M Scutaro reached on infield single to shortstop. K Suzuki flied out to center. J DaVanon struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 1. CLEVELAND 6TH: R Garko homered to left. J Peralta homered to right. K Lofton singled to right center. F Gutierrez singled to center, K Lofton to second. C Blake sacrificed to catcher, K Lofton to third, F Gutierrez to second. G Sizemore intentionally walked. A Cabrera hit sacrifice fly to left, K Lofton scored. J Blevins relieved J Blanton. T Hafner lined out to first. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 4. OAKLAND 7TH: R Perez relieved F Carmona. S Stewart struck out swinging. D Barton doubled to right. J Cust homered to left, D Barton scored. D Johnson flied out to center. J Lewis relieved R Perez. M Ellis struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, CLEVELAND 4. CLEVELAND 7TH: V Martinez flied out to right. R Garko struck out looking. J Peralta grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, CLEVELAND 4. OAKLAND 8TH: R Betancourt relieved J Lewis. J Hannahan struck out swinging. M Scutaro lined out to left. K Suzuki struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, CLEVELAND 4. CLEVELAND 8TH: K Lofton flied out to center. R Lugo relieved J Blevins. F Gutierrez struck out swinging. C Blake lined out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, CLEVELAND 4. OAKLAND 9TH: J Borowski relieved R Betancourt. M Piazza hit for J DaVanon. M Piazza flied out to center. S Stewart singled to center. D Barton struck out looking. J Cust struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, CLEVELAND 4.</div>
Carmona pitches Indians to brink of AL Central crown <h3>CLEVELAND 4, OAKLAND 3</h3>By Todd Krepop PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Fausto Carmona wasn't at his best, but hedidn't need to be as Ryan Garko and Jhonny Peralta picked him up. Carmona joined teammate C.C. Sabathia as an 18-game winner asthe Cleveland Indians defeated the Oakland Athletics 4-3, onFriday. The win reduced the Indians (91-62) magic number to two forclinching the AL Central and moved Cleveland into a tie with theLos Angeles Angels (91-62) for the best record in baseball. TheAngels take on the Seattle Mariners later Friday night. "(Carmona) has done an unbelievable job all season," Garko said."It was great to pick him up tonight. He deserves the win.He's picked up so many times this season." Carmona (18-8) allowed one run on five hits in six innings.The young righthander, who walked four and struck out seven,wasn't nearly as efficient as he had been in his last startas he threw 106 pitches - 65 for strikes. "I was a little off in the first couple off innings," saidCarmona through a translator. "I had to make a lot of pitches,but I made pitches when I had to and gave my team six innings." Despite struggling with his control, Carmona lowered hisleague-leading ERA to 3.03 and kept the A's off the board togive his team a chance to take the lead. "Carmona threw a good game," A's manager Bob Geren said. "Heleads the league in ERA and he pitched like it today. Hisfastball has tremendous movement on it. He's a good one." "I didn't have my best," Carmona said. "But I gave us a chanceto win the game. It was nice for the guys to pick me up." With the score tied at 1-1 in the sixth, Garko and Peralta ledoff the inning with back-to-back home runs off of Oaklandstarter Joe Blanton (14-10) to give the Indians a 3-1 lead.Garko blasted Blanton's 1-0 pitch over the left field wall,becoming the fifth Indian this season with 20 home runs. "I was trying to make sure I was aggressive," Garko said.(Blanton) is sneaky." Peralta hit Blanton's next pitch the otherway over the right field wall for his 21st home run andCleveland went on for its 50th home victory - most since 1996. "Jhonny could hit the ball out of any part of the ball park,"Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "He has much power to rightfield as he does to left field." The Indians kept the pressure on Blanton, as Kenny Lofton andFranklin Gutierrez followed with singles. After a sacrifice byCasey Blake, Blanton intentionally walked Grady Sizemore to loadthe bases. Asdrubal Cabrera followed with a sacrifice flygiving the Indians an additional run. "A lot of good things happened that inning," Wedge said. "Yousaw both sides of our offense that inning. At this point ofyear we don't care how we score, we just want to score." The extra run turned out to be important as Jack Cust continuedhis dominance of the Cleveland Indians the next inning. With arunner on first in seventh, Cust hit reliever Rafael Perez's 1-1pitch the opposite way for his 25th home run of the season,cutting the Indians lead to 4-3. Cust has six home runs and 17 RBI in eight games againstCleveland this season. "You see players do it throughout a career against certainteams," Wedge said. "Here in the short-term he's had his shareof success against us." However the A's wouldn't get any closer as Rafael Betancourtpitched a perfect eighth and Joe Borowski worked the ninth topick up his AL-leading 43rd save in 49 chances. He struck outCust for the final out. Cleveland tied the score at 1-1 in the third on VictorMartinez's RBI double. Grady Sizemore led off the inning with asingle but was erased on a fielder's choice. After a groundout moved the runner to second, Martinez linedBlanton's 2-0 pitch into the gap in right-center. Blanton gaveup four runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out fourand walked three. The loss snapped Blanton's three-game winningstreak. "It was a tough one," he said. "I had a good first inning, but Ihad to battle in every inning after that. When you have fouror five tough innings in a row, it will catch up to you." Kurt Suzuki's RBI single in the second gave the A's a 1-0 lead.The loss stretched the A's losing streak to five and endedOakland's (74-81) eight-year run of finishing above .500.
