AL: OAKLAND (40-37) at CLEVELAND (45-32) <h3>Athletics look for split of four-game series with Indians</h3> Oakland (40-37) at Cleveland (45-32) 12:05 pm EDT CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics look for a splitof their four-game set with the Cleveland Indians when theteams face off in the series finale at Jacobs Field onThursday afternoon. On Wednesday, Jack Cust homered and had a career-high five RBIas the Athletics snapped a five-game losing streak with a 13-7victory. Oakland, which had scored just 10 runs during the five-gameskid, used a six-run second inning to run out to a 9-0 leadearly in the contest and eventually cruised to the victory. The A's now will look for their second straight win behind JoeBlanton (7-4, 3.19 ERA), who yielded just five hits in eightscoreless innings in his last start against the New York Metslast Saturday. The righthander has gone 3-1 with a 1.14 ERA in five starts thismonth. Blanton will be opposed by Paul Byrd (6-3, 4.74), who yieldedthree runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 frames at Washington lastSaturday. Byrd has not won since May 30, his fourth straight win lastmonth. It has been a different story in June, where he is 0-2with an 8.48 ERA. Despite Wednesday's loss, the Indians have won six of their lastnine games.
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">OAKLAND AT CLEVELAND -- LINEUPS OAKLAND CLEVELAND AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Shannon Stewart LF .292 6 24 Grady Sizemore CF .281 13 36 Mark Kotsay CF .233 1 8 Jason Michaels LF .303 5 22 Nick Swisher RF .280 10 42 Victor Martinez 1B .315 14 62 Jack Cust DH .273 13 34 Travis Hafner DH .259 12 51 Eric Chavez 3B .243 12 37 Jhonny Peralta SS .283 13 45 Mark Ellis 2B .275 8 40 Trot Nixon RF .239 2 25 Dan Johnson 1B .254 6 27 Kelly Shoppach C .382 4 16 Bobby Crosby SS .234 6 28 Josh Barfield 2B .263 2 36 Jason Kendall C .215 1 20 Mike Rouse 3B .122 0 2 Joe Blanton RHP (7-4, 3.19) Paul Byrd RHP (6-3, 4.74)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND WARMUPS: OAK - JOE BLANTON (7-4, 3.19) CLE - PAUL BYRD (6-3, 4.74) UMPIRES: HP - BRIAN GORMAN 1B - MIKE EVERITT 2B - PAUL NAUERT 3B - GERRY DAVIS WEATHER: 76 Degrees, cloudy WIND: 7 mph, left to right</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND STARTING BATS: OAK - JOE BLANTON AND JASON KENDALL CLE - PAUL BYRD AND KELLY SHOPPACH DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.292, 6 HR, 24 RBI) M KOTSAY (.233, 1 HR, 8 RBI) N SWISHER (.280, 10 HR, 42 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY ERIC CHAVEZ SCORED SHANNON STEWART. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, E CHAVEZ ON FIRST, J CUST ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1 CLEVELAND 0 TOP, 1ST DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M ELLIS (.275, 8 HR, 40 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 1 3 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON CLE - PAUL BYRD DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.281, 13 HR, 36 RBI) J MICHAELS (.303, 5 HR, 22 RBI) V MARTINEZ (.315, 14 HR, 62 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">OAKLAND (1) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .295 M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .231 N Swisher rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278 J Cust dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .279 E Chavez 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .246 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .273 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234 J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215 Totals 6 1 3 1 0 0 4 BATTING: RBI - E Chavez (38). 2-out RBI - E Chavez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 1. Team LOB - 2. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281 J Michaels lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303 V Martinez 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315 T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .382 J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Rouse 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .122 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 1 -- 1 CLEVELAND - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.19 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 1 3 1 1 0 0 0 4.80 Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 29-21. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 0-3. Batters faced: P Byrd 6. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Gerry Davis. Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 5 mph, left to right.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND CONFIRMED STARTERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON CLE - PAUL BYRD</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 1 3 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON CLE - PAUL BYRD DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: D JOHNSON (.254, 6 HR, 27 RBI) B CROSBY (.234, 6 HR, 28 RBI) J KENDALL (.215, 1 HR, 20 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">OAKLAND (1) VS CLEVELAND (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .295 M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .231 N Swisher rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .278 J Cust dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .279 E Chavez 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .246 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .273 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234 J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215 Totals 6 1 3 1 0 0 4 BATTING: RBI - E Chavez (38). 2-out RBI - E Chavez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 1. Team LOB - 2. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281 J Michaels lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314 T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .382 J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Rouse 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .122 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 1 -- 1 CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.16 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 1 3 1 1 0 0 0 4.80 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 12-8; P Byrd 29-21. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 1-2; P Byrd 0-3. Batters faced: J Blanton 3; P Byrd 6. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Gerry Davis. Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 5 mph, left to right.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY DAN JOHNSON (7) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN THE 2ND OFF PAUL BYRD. CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 2, CLEVELAND 0 DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: B CROSBY (.234, 6 HR, 28 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY MARK KOTSAY SCORED BOBBY CROSBY. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M KOTSAY ON FIRST, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 3 CLEVELAND 0 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: N SWISHER (.278, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 2 3 6 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON CLE - PAUL BYRD DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T HAFNER (.259, 12 HR, 51 RBI) J PERALTA (.283, 13 HR, 45 RBI) T NIXON (.239, 2 HR, 25 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">OAKLAND (3) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .294 M Kotsay cf 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .239 N Swisher rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .277 J Cust dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .279 E Chavez 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .246 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .273 D Johnson 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .258 B Crosby ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .237 J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214 Totals 12 3 6 3 0 0 6 BATTING: 2B - B Crosby (15, P Byrd). HR - D Johnson (7, 2nd inning off P Byrd 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - E Chavez (38), D Johnson (28), M Kotsay (9). 2-out RBI - E Chavez, M Kotsay. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 1. Team LOB - 3. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281 J Michaels lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314 T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259 J Peralta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .382 J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Rouse 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .122 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 12 -- 3 CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.16 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 2 6 3 3 0 0 1 4.96 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 12-8; P Byrd 46-34. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 1-2; P Byrd 3-3. Batters faced: J Blanton 3; P Byrd 12. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Gerry Davis. Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 5 mph, left to right.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 2 3 6 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON CLE - PAUL BYRD DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.279, 1-FOR-1) E CHAVEZ (.246, 1-FOR-1, RBI) M ELLIS (.273, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">OAKLAND (3) VS CLEVELAND (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .294 M Kotsay cf 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .239 N Swisher rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .277 J Cust dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .279 E Chavez 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .246 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .273 D Johnson 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .258 B Crosby ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .237 J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214 Totals 12 3 6 3 0 0 6 BATTING: 2B - B Crosby (15, P Byrd). HR - D Johnson (7, 2nd inning off P Byrd 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - E Chavez (38), D Johnson (28), M Kotsay (9). 2-out RBI - E Chavez, M Kotsay. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 1. Team LOB - 3. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281 J Michaels lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .282 T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .239 K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .377 J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Rouse 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .122 Totals 6 0 0 0 1 1 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 12 -- 3 CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.13 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 2 6 3 3 0 0 1 4.96 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 26-14; P Byrd 46-34. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 3-2; P Byrd 3-3. Batters faced: J Blanton 7; P Byrd 12. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Gerry Davis. Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 5 mph, left to right.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 2 0 3 6 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON CLE - PAUL BYRD DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J BARFIELD (.263, 2 HR, 36 RBI) M ROUSE (.122, 0 HR, 2 RBI) G SIZEMORE (.281, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">OAKLAND (3) VS CLEVELAND (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .294 M Kotsay cf 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .239 N Swisher rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .277 J Cust dh 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277 E Chavez 3b 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 .245 M Ellis 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .272 D Johnson 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .258 B Crosby ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .237 J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214 Totals 15 3 6 3 0 1 6 BATTING: 2B - B Crosby (15, P Byrd). HR - D Johnson (7, 2nd inning off P Byrd 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - E Chavez (38), D Johnson (28), M Kotsay (9). 2-out RBI - E Chavez, M Kotsay. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 1. Team LOB - 3. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281 J Michaels lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .282 T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .239 K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .377 J Barfield 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Rouse 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .122 Totals 6 0 0 0 1 1 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 120 -- 3 CLEVELAND - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.13 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 3 6 3 3 0 1 1 4.90 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 26-14; P Byrd 58-43. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 3-2; P Byrd 5-3. Batters faced: J Blanton 7; P Byrd 15. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Gerry Davis. Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 5 mph, left to right.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 2 0 3 6 0 CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON CLE - PAUL BYRD DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: D JOHNSON (.258, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI) B CROSBY (.237, 1-FOR-1) J KENDALL (.214, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at CLEVELAND <div class="pre">OAKLAND (3) VS CLEVELAND (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .294 M Kotsay cf 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .239 N Swisher rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .277 J Cust dh 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .277 E Chavez 3b 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 .245 M Ellis 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .272 D Johnson 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .258 B Crosby ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .237 J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214 Totals 15 3 6 3 0 1 6 BATTING: 2B - B Crosby (15, P Byrd). HR - D Johnson (7, 2nd inning off P Byrd 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - E Chavez (38), D Johnson (28), M Kotsay (9). 2-out RBI - E Chavez, M Kotsay. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 1. Team LOB - 3. CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280 J Michaels lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .299 V Martinez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .314 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 J Peralta ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .282 T Nixon rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .239 K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .377 J Barfield 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .265 M Rouse 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .120 Totals 10 0 1 0 1 3 4 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Michaels 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - J Barfield 2 (8, 2nd base off J Blanton/J Kendall, 3rd base off J Blanton/J Kendall). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 120 -- 3 CLEVELAND - 000 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 3 1 0 0 1 3 0 3.10 CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 3 6 3 3 0 1 1 4.90 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 49-29; P Byrd 58-43. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 3-3; P Byrd 5-3. Batters faced: J Blanton 11; P Byrd 15. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Gorman. 1B--Mike Everitt. 2B--Paul Nauert. 3B--Gerry Davis. Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 5 mph, left to right.</div>
