GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: OAKLAND (39-36) at CLEVELAND (44-31)

AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: B Francisco ran for V Martinez.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, B FRANCISCO ON FIRST, G SIZEMORE ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 5
CLEVELAND 3 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T Hafner (.256, 0-FOR-3, RBI)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY TRAVIS HAFNER SCORED GRADY SIZEMORE AND BEN
FRANCISCO.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, T HAFNER ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 5
CLEVELAND 5 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J PERALTA (.281, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: K Shoppach hit for M Rouse.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J PERALTA ON FIRST, T HAFNER ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 5
CLEVELAND 5 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K Shoppach (.373, 3 HR, 13 RBI)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY KELLY SHOPPACH (4) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 9TH OFF ALAN EMBREE SCORED TRAVIS HAFNER AND JHONNY PERALTA.

FINAL SCORE: CLEVELAND 8, OAKLAND 5</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 5 10 0
CLEVELAND 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 8 11 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: OAK - DAN HAREN, SANTIAGO CASILLA (7TH), ALAN EMBREE (9TH) AND JASON
KENDALL

CLE - CLIFF LEE, TOM MASTNY (7TH), RAFAEL PEREZ (7TH),
RAFAEL BETANCOURT (9TH) AND VICTOR MARTINEZ

HOME RUNS: OAK - JACK CUST (12) OFF CLIFF LEE IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
MARK ELLIS (8) OFF CLIFF LEE IN THE 5TH, 1 ON
SHANNON STEWART (5) OFF RAFAEL BETANCOURT IN THE 9TH, 0 ON


CLE - GRADY SIZEMORE (13) OFF DAN HAREN IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
KELLY SHOPPACH (4) OFF ALAN EMBREE IN THE 9TH, 2 ON</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 5 10 0
CLEVELAND 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 8 11 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: OAK - DAN HAREN, SANTIAGO CASILLA (7TH), ALAN EMBREE (9TH) AND JASON
KENDALL

CLE - CLIFF LEE, TOM MASTNY (7TH), RAFAEL PEREZ (7TH),
RAFAEL BETANCOURT (9TH) AND VICTOR MARTINEZ


WP - RAFAEL BETANCOURT (1-0)
LP - ALAN EMBREE (1-1)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: OAK - JACK CUST (12) OFF CLIFF LEE IN THE 2ND, 0 ON
MARK ELLIS (8) OFF CLIFF LEE IN THE 5TH, 1 ON
SHANNON STEWART (5) OFF RAFAEL BETANCOURT IN THE 9TH, 0 ON


CLE - GRADY SIZEMORE (13) OFF DAN HAREN IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
KELLY SHOPPACH (4) OFF ALAN EMBREE IN THE 9TH, 2 ON


TIME: 3:15 ATT: 18,494

PROBABLES: OAK - LENNY DINARDO (2-4, 2.35)
CLE - FAUSTO CARMONA (8-3, 3.21)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">OAKLAND (5) VS CLEVELAND (8) - FINAL

OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 5 2 3 1 0 0 0 .283
M Ellis 2b 5 1 4 3 0 1 2 .276
N Swisher rf 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 .281
E Chavez 3b 4 0 0 0 0 1 6 .236
J Cust dh 4 1 1 1 0 1 3 .269
B Crosby ss 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .234
D Johnson 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .249
M Kotsay cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .233
J Kendall c 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .215

Totals 35 5 10 5 3 6 13

BATTING: 2B - J Kendall (8, C Lee); M Ellis (14, T Mastny). HR - J Cust (12,
2nd inning off C Lee 0 on, 0 Out), M Ellis (8, 5th inning off C Lee 1 on, 1
Out), S Stewart (5, 9th inning off R Betancourt 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Cust
(29), M Ellis 3 (40), S Stewart (22). 2-out RBI - S Stewart. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - J Cust 2. Team LOB - 6.

BASERUNNING: CS - M Ellis (2, 3rd base by R Perez/V Martinez).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (E Chavez-D Johnson).


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 3 3 2 1 2 0 1 .282
C Blake 3b-1b 5 1 1 0 0 0 3 .273
V Martinez c 3 0 1 0 2 1 1 .313
B Francisco pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T Hafner dh 4 1 1 3 1 0 3 .259
J Peralta ss 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 .281
R Garko 1b 4 0 1 0 0 0 3 .292
M Rouse pr-3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .122
a-K Shoppach ph 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .382
T Nixon rf 4 0 0 0 0 3 1 .239
J Michaels lf 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .298
J Barfield 2b 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .267

Totals 36 8 11 8 6 6 15

a-homered to left for M Rouse in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - G Sizemore (14, D Haren); V Martinez (16, D Haren); T Hafner (9,
A Embree). HR - G Sizemore (13, 3rd inning off D Haren 0 on, 0 Out), K Shoppach
(4, 9th inning off A Embree 2 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Peralta (44), G Sizemore
(35), T Hafner 3 (50), K Shoppach 3 (16). 2-out RBI - J Peralta, T Hafner 2, K
Shoppach 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Hafner 2, R Garko 2.
Team LOB - 8.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - J Michaels (M Ellis at 2nd base). DP: 1 (V
Martinez-C Blake).


----------------------------------------------------
OAKLAND - 010 020 101 -- 5
CLEVELAND - 102 000 005 -- 8

Two outs when winning run scored.
----------------------------------------------------

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
D Haren 6 2/3 8 3 3 3 4 1 1.91
S Casilla (H, 2) 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.66
A Embree (L, 1-1; B, 2) 2/3 2 5 5 3 0 1 4.25

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Lee 6 6 3 3 2 3 2 5.37
T Mastny 1/3 2 1 1 1 0 0 5.23
R Perez 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.87
R Betancourt (W, 1-0) 2/3 2 1 1 0 0 1 1.35

WP - D Haren. IBB - N Swisher (by T Mastny), J Peralta (by A Embree).
Pitches-strikes: D Haren 105-66; S Casilla 30-21; A Embree 24-11; C Lee 95-63;
T Mastny 15-8; R Perez 21-13; R Betancourt 11-10. Ground balls-fly balls: D
Haren 9-6; S Casilla 0-2; A Embree 0-2; C Lee 4-11; T Mastny 0-1; R Perez 1-1;
R Betancourt 0-1. Batters faced: D Haren 30; S Casilla 5; A Embree 7; C Lee 26;
T Mastny 4; R Perez 5; R Betancourt 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Nauert. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Mike
Everitt.

T--3:15. Att--18,494.
Weather: 89 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 2 mph, left
to right.</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
OAKLAND 5
CLEVELAND 8 FINAL</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OAKLAND (5) AT CLEVELAND (8) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CLEVELAND 1ST: G Sizemore doubled to left. C Blake grounded out to second,
G Sizemore to third. V Martinez struck out swinging. T Hafner walked.
J Peralta singled to center, G Sizemore scored, T Hafner to third. R Garko flied
out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, CLEVELAND 1.

OAKLAND 2ND: J Cust homered to right center. B Crosby flied out to right.
D Johnson grounded out to first. M Kotsay popped out to shortstop. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 3RD: G Sizemore homered to right center. C Blake singled to left
center. V Martinez doubled to deep center, C Blake to third. T Hafner
grounded out to shortstop, C Blake scored, V Martinez to third. J Peralta
grounded out to shortstop. R Garko grounded out to first. (2 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 3.

OAKLAND 5TH: J Kendall doubled to deep left center. S Stewart grounded out
to second, J Kendall to third. M Ellis homered to left center, J Kendall
scored. N Swisher flied out to left. E Chavez popped out to shortstop.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, CLEVELAND 3.

OAKLAND 7TH: T Mastny relieved C Lee. J Kendall flied out to center.
S Stewart singled to center. M Ellis doubled to deep center, S Stewart scored.
N Swisher intentionally walked. R Perez relieved T Mastny. E Chavez struck out
swinging. M Ellis caught stealing third, catcher to third.(1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) OAKLAND 4, CLEVELAND 3.

OAKLAND 9TH: C Blake at first base. M Rouse at third base. M Kotsay popped
out to second. R Betancourt relieved R Perez. J Kendall flied out to center.
S Stewart homered to center. M Ellis singled to left, M Ellis out stretching
at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 5, CLEVELAND 3.

CLEVELAND 9TH: A Embree relieved S Casilla. J Barfield popped out to
shortstop. G Sizemore walked. C Blake fouled out to left. G Sizemore to
second on fielder's indifference. V Martinez walked. B Francisco ran for
V Martinez. T Hafner doubled to deep center, G Sizemore and B Francisco scored.
J Peralta intentionally walked. K Shoppach hit for M Rouse. K Shoppach homered
to left, T Hafner and J Peralta scored. (5 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 5,
CLEVELAND 8.</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OAKLAND (5) AT CLEVELAND (8) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oakland Starting Lineups -- S Stewart LF, M Ellis 2B, N Swisher RF, E Chavez 3B,
J Cust DH, B Crosby SS, D Johnson 1B, M Kotsay CF, J Kendall C, D Haren RHP.

Cleveland Starting Lineups -- G Sizemore CF, C Blake 3B, V Martinez C, T Hafner DH,
J Peralta SS, R Garko 1B, T Nixon RF, J Michaels LF, J Barfield 2B, C Lee LHP.

Umpires -- Paul Nauert (HP), Gerry Davis (1B), Brian Gorman (2B), Mike Everitt (3B).

Gametime Weather: 89 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind left to right at 2 mph.


OAKLAND 1ST: S Stewart fouled out to catcher. M Ellis singled to right.
N Swisher struck out swinging. E Chavez fouled out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 1ST: G Sizemore doubled to left. C Blake grounded out to second,
G Sizemore to third. V Martinez struck out swinging. T Hafner walked.
J Peralta singled to center, G Sizemore scored, T Hafner to third. R Garko flied
out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, CLEVELAND 1.

OAKLAND 2ND: J Cust homered to right center. B Crosby flied out to right.
D Johnson grounded out to first. M Kotsay popped out to shortstop. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 2ND: T Nixon grounded out to second. J Michaels reached on
infield single to shortstop. J Barfield popped into double play, third to
first, J Michaels doubled off first.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1,
CLEVELAND 1.

OAKLAND 3RD: J Kendall walked. S Stewart singled to center, J Kendall to
second. M Ellis struck out looking. N Swisher walked, J Kendall to third,
S Stewart to second. E Chavez popped out to shortstop. J Cust grounded out to
second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 3RD: G Sizemore homered to right center. C Blake singled to left
center. V Martinez doubled to deep center, C Blake to third. T Hafner
grounded out to shortstop, C Blake scored, V Martinez to third. J Peralta
grounded out to shortstop. R Garko grounded out to first. (2 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 3.

OAKLAND 4TH: B Crosby flied out to center. D Johnson popped out to
shortstop. M Kotsay flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1,
CLEVELAND 3.

CLEVELAND 4TH: T Nixon struck out swinging. J Michaels struck out looking.
J Barfield singled to shallow left. G Sizemore flied out to center. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, CLEVELAND 3.

OAKLAND 5TH: J Kendall doubled to deep left center. S Stewart grounded out
to second, J Kendall to third. M Ellis homered to left center, J Kendall
scored. N Swisher flied out to left. E Chavez popped out to shortstop.
(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, CLEVELAND 3.

CLEVELAND 5TH: C Blake grounded out to third. V Martinez lined out to
left. T Hafner lined out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3,
CLEVELAND 3.

OAKLAND 6TH: J Cust struck out swinging. B Crosby grounded out to second.
D Johnson singled to right. M Kotsay fouled out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, CLEVELAND 3.

CLEVELAND 6TH: J Peralta grounded out to second. R Garko grounded out to
shortstop. T Nixon struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3,
CLEVELAND 3.

OAKLAND 7TH: T Mastny relieved C Lee. J Kendall flied out to center.
S Stewart singled to center. M Ellis doubled to deep center, S Stewart scored.
N Swisher intentionally walked. R Perez relieved T Mastny. E Chavez struck out
swinging. M Ellis caught stealing third, catcher to third.(1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) OAKLAND 4, CLEVELAND 3.

CLEVELAND 7TH: J Michaels grounded out to third. J Barfield singled to
left. J Barfield to second on wild pitch by D Haren. G Sizemore walked.
C Blake popped out to second. V Martinez walked, J Barfield to third, G Sizemore
to second. S Casilla relieved D Haren. T Hafner lined out to center. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 4, CLEVELAND 3.

OAKLAND 8TH: J Cust grounded out to first. B Crosby struck out swinging.
D Johnson struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 4, CLEVELAND 3.

CLEVELAND 8TH: J Peralta struck out swinging. R Garko singled to right.
M Rouse ran for R Garko. T Nixon struck out swinging. J Michaels flied out to
center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 4, CLEVELAND 3.

OAKLAND 9TH: C Blake at first base. M Rouse at third base. M Kotsay popped
out to second. R Betancourt relieved R Perez. J Kendall flied out to center.
S Stewart homered to center. M Ellis singled to left, M Ellis out stretching
at second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 5, CLEVELAND 3.

CLEVELAND 9TH: A Embree relieved S Casilla. J Barfield popped out to
shortstop. G Sizemore walked. C Blake fouled out to left. G Sizemore to
second on fielder's indifference. V Martinez walked. B Francisco ran for
V Martinez. T Hafner doubled to deep center, G Sizemore and B Francisco scored.
J Peralta intentionally walked. K Shoppach hit for M Rouse. K Shoppach homered
to left, T Hafner and J Peralta scored. (5 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 5,
CLEVELAND 8.</div>

 

Shoppach's game-winning homer leads Indians past Athletics

<h3>CLEVELAND 8, OAKLAND 5</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Kelly Shoppach spoiled Dan Haren's chanceat double-digit wins.

Shoppach belted a pinch-hit three-run homer in the ninth inningas the Cleveland Indians rallied for an 8-5 victory over theOakland Athletics on Tuesday.

Travis Hafner had a game-tying two-run double and Grady Sizemorescored three times for Cleveland, which has won three of fourand six of nine.

Trailing, 5-3, in the ninth inning, Cleveland rallied offreliever Alan Embree (1-1) in the ninth. After a one-out walkby Sizemore and a two-out walk by Victor Martinez, Hafnerdrilled a double to the right-center to tie the score. AfterJhonny Peralta was intentionally walked, Shoppach hit a 1-0pitch into the left field seats for the victory.

Indians reliever Rafael Betancourt (1-0) got two outs in theninth to get the win.

The loss was the fifth straight for Oakland and prevented Harenfrom winning his 10th consecutive decision. The righthandergave up three runs on a season-high eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.Haren hasn't lost a game since April 7.

With the score tied at 3-3 in the seventh inning, Mark Ellis hitan RBI double to give Oakland a 4-3 lead. Shannon Stewartadded a solo homer in the ninth inning to make it 5-3.

Trailing 3-1 in the fifth, Oakland tied the game off Indiansstarter Cliff Lee. Jason Kendall led off with a double beforeEllis belted the first pitch from Lee into the left fieldbleachers. It was the eighth home run for Ellis and just hissecond on the road.

The Indians had taken a two-run lead in the third when Sizemoreled off with a solo homer and Hafner added an RBI groundout toput the Indians up 3-1.

Jack Cust tied the game at 1-1 in the second with his 12th homeroff of Lee.

Lee, who had won his previous two starts, allowed three runs andsix hits in six innings while striking out two.

 

Shoppach's game-winning homer leads Indians past Athletics

<h3>CLEVELAND 8, OAKLAND 5</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Kelly Shoppach spoiled Dan Haren's chanceat double-digit wins.

Shoppach belted a pinch-hit three-run homer in the ninth inningas the Cleveland Indians rallied for an 8-5 victory over theOakland Athletics on Tuesday.

Travis Hafner had a game-tying two-run double and Grady Sizemorescored three times for Cleveland, which has won three of fourand six of nine.

"It seems like we are coming back a lot this season," Hafnersaid. "Tonight was a good comeback win."

It was the 22nd come-from-behind win for the Indians thisseason, tied for most in the AL with Tampa Bay.

"This team always has a chance, it really does," said Shoppach."Like I have been saying all season and will continue to say,'It's a pretty special club.' We believe in one another. Ifone guy doesn't do it, the next guy will."

Trailing, 5-3, in the ninth inning, Cleveland rallied offreliever Alan Embree (1-1) in the ninth. After a one-out walkby Sizemore and a two-out walk by Victor Martinez, Hafnerdrilled a double to the right-center to tie the score.

"I got a fastball to hit," said Hafner, who lined out with thebases loaded in the eighth. "I had a chance earlier (in theeighth) and I had a feeling I would get up again. I was pumpedup when I got to second."

After Jhonny Peralta was intentionally walked, Shoppach hit a1-0 pitch into the left field seats for the victory.

"(Embree) is a fastball guy," Shoppach said. "I knew he wasgoing to go with his bread and butter. There was no way he wasgoing to let a young guy beat him with his second or thirdstuff. I hit it right on the screws."

"It was a strike," Embree said. "(Shoppach) let me know howgood of a strike it was by the way he hit it."

Shoppach's first career pinch-hit homer set off a mob scene athome plate.

"It's exciting," Shoppach said. "It what you want. Once theball was over the fence, I ran harder than I normally do becauseI was in a hurry to get beat up."

Indians reliever Rafael Betancourt (1-0) got two outs in theninth to get the win.

"It was just a great effort by everybody to finish off thegame," Indians manager Eric Wedge said.

The loss was the fifth straight for Oakland and prevented Harenfrom winning his 10th consecutive decision. The righthandergave up three runs on a season-high eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.Haren hasn't lost a game since April 7.

"Danny did a great job," A's manager Bob Geren said. "It washot. He battled. He pitched well against a very good hittingteam."

"I really felt if we got Haren out of the game and got intotheir bullpen, we would have a chance," Shoppach added.

With the score tied at 3-3 in the seventh inning, Mark Ellis hitan RBI double to give Oakland a 4-3 lead. Shannon Stewartadded a solo homer in the ninth inning to make it 5-3.

"This could have been a big win for us," Embree said. "But Ilet us down. It definitely stinks."

Trailing 3-1 in the fifth, Oakland tied the game off Indiansstarter Cliff Lee. Jason Kendall led off with a double beforeEllis belted the first pitch from Lee into the left fieldbleachers. It was the eighth home run for Ellis and just hissecond on the road.

The Indians had taken a two-run lead in the third when Sizemoreled off with a solo homer and Hafner added an RBI groundout toput the Indians up 3-1.

Jack Cust tied the game at 1-1 in the second with his 12th homeroff of Lee.

Lee, who had won his previous two starts, allowed three runs andsix hits in six innings while striking out two.