GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TORONTO (39-42) at OAKLAND (42-39)

AL: TORONTO (39-42) at OAKLAND (42-39)

<h3>Athletics host Blue Jays in opener of three-game series</h3>

<div class="pre">Toronto (39-42) at Oakland (42-39) 10:05 pm EDT</div>

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - Returning home after adisappointing road trip, the Oakland Athletics host the TorontoBlue Jays in the opener of a three-game series Monday.

While they went just 3-7 on their road trip, the Athletics didclose the trek by taking two of three games against the NewYork Yankees over the weekend.

The A's hand the ball to lefthander Lenny DiNardo (3-4, 2.47 ERA),who avoided a third straight loss in his last start by beatingCleveland on Wednesday.

DiNardo is 0-1 with a 9.60 ERA in eight lifetime appearances -including one start - against Toronto.

The Blue Jays will counter with Josh Towers (3-5, 5.59), whowill be targeting consecutive wins for the first time sinceAugust 12-17, 2005. In a 5-4 win over Minnesota on Wednesday,he surrendered four runs and nine hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Towers is 5-4 with a 5.16 ERA in 10 starts and one reliefappearances against Oakland.

The Blue Jays enter with a four-game losing streak.

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">TORONTO AT OAKLAND -- LINEUPS

TORONTO OAKLAND
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Vernon Wells CF .247 9 43 Shannon Stewart LF .299 7 25
Alex Rios RF .287 17 45 Mark Kotsay CF .250 1 9
Troy Glaus 3B .276 11 35 Nick Swisher RF .271 10 44
Frank Thomas DH .243 14 41 Jack Cust DH .288 14 38
Aaron Hill 2B .273 9 45 Eric Chavez 3B .246 12 42
Curtis Thigpen 1B .370 0 4 Dan Johnson 1B .265 9 32
Adam Lind LF .229 8 29 Mark Ellis 2B .270 8 41
Jason Phillips C .212 1 12 Marco Scutaro SS .241 4 11
Royce Clayton SS .230 1 9 Kurt Suzuki C .412 2 4

Josh Towers RHP (3-5, 5.59) Lenny Dinardo LHP (3-4, 2.47)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND
WARMUPS: TOR - JOSH TOWERS (3-5, 5.59)
OAK - LENNY DINARDO (3-4, 2.47)

UMPIRES: HP - TONY RANDAZZO
1B - CHARLIE RELIFORD
2B - GREG GIBSON
3B - LARRY VANOVER

WEATHER: 67 Degrees, clear
WIND: 14 mph, out to right</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND
STARTING BATS: TOR - JOSH TOWERS AND JASON PHILLIPS
OAK - LENNY DINARDO AND KURT SUZUKI

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: V WELLS (.247, 9 HR, 43 RBI)
A RIOS (.287, 17 HR, 45 RBI)
T GLAUS (.276, 11 HR, 35 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JOSH TOWERS
OAK - LENNY DINARDO

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.299, 7 HR, 25 RBI)
M KOTSAY (.250, 1 HR, 9 RBI)
N SWISHER (.271, 10 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS OAKLAND (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .249
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .242
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
C Thigpen 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .370
A Lind lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
J Phillips c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212
R Clayton ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
M Kotsay cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
N Swisher rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
J Cust dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
M Scutaro ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .412

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 0 -- 0
OAKLAND - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Towers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.59

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
L DiNardo 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.42

Pitches-strikes: L DiNardo 14-12. Ground balls-fly balls: L DiNardo 1-1.
Batters faced: L DiNardo 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Tony Randazzo. 1B--Charlie Reliford. 2B--Greg Gibson. 3B--Larry
Vanover.

Weather: 73 degrees, clear. Wind: 14 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TOR - JOSH TOWERS
OAK - LENNY DINARDO</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JOSH TOWERS
OAK - LENNY DINARDO

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A HILL (.273, 9 HR, 45 RBI)
C THIGPEN (.370, 0 HR, 4 RBI)
A LIND (.229, 8 HR, 29 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS OAKLAND (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .249
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .242
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
C Thigpen 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .370
A Lind lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
J Phillips c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212
R Clayton ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 1 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (R Clayton-C Thigpen).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .301
M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248
N Swisher rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270
J Cust dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
M Scutaro ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .412

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: GIDP - M Kotsay. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 0 -- 0
OAKLAND - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Towers 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.49

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
L DiNardo 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.42

Pitches-strikes: J Towers 9-7; L DiNardo 14-12. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Towers 2-0; L DiNardo 1-1. Batters faced: J Towers 3; L DiNardo 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Tony Randazzo. 1B--Charlie Reliford. 2B--Greg Gibson. 3B--Larry
Vanover.

Weather: 73 degrees, clear. Wind: 14 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JOSH TOWERS
OAK - LENNY DINARDO

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.288, 14 HR, 38 RBI)
E CHAVEZ (.246, 12 HR, 42 RBI)
D JOHNSON (.265, 9 HR, 32 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS OAKLAND (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .249
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .242
A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .272
C Thigpen 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .357
A Lind lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .232
J Phillips c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .211
R Clayton ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230

Totals 8 0 2 0 0 3 4

BATTING: Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (R Clayton-C Thigpen).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .301
M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248
N Swisher rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270
J Cust dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
M Scutaro ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .412

Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1

BATTING: GIDP - M Kotsay. Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 00 -- 0
OAKLAND - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Towers 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.49

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
L DiNardo 2 2 0 0 0 3 0 2.38

Pitches-strikes: J Towers 9-7; L DiNardo 26-21. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Towers 2-0; L DiNardo 1-2. Batters faced: J Towers 3; L DiNardo 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Tony Randazzo. 1B--Charlie Reliford. 2B--Greg Gibson. 3B--Larry
Vanover.

Weather: 73 degrees, clear. Wind: 6 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY DAN JOHNSON SCORED JACK CUST.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D JOHNSON ON FIRST, E CHAVEZ ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 0
OAKLAND 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M ELLIS (.270, 8 HR, 41 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MARCO SCUTARO SCORED ERIC CHAVEZ.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M SCUTARO ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 0
OAKLAND 2 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: K SUZUKI (.412, 2 HR, 4 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JOSH TOWERS
OAK - LENNY DINARDO

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R CLAYTON (.230, 1 HR, 9 RBI)
V WELLS (.249, 1-FOR-1)
A RIOS (.286, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS OAKLAND (2) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .249
A Rios rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .242
A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .272
C Thigpen 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .357
A Lind lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .232
J Phillips c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .211
R Clayton ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .230

Totals 8 0 2 0 0 3 4

BATTING: Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (R Clayton-C Thigpen, R Clayton-A Hill-C Thigpen).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .301
M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248
N Swisher rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .270
J Cust dh 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .288
E Chavez 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .248
D Johnson 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .269
M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .269
M Scutaro ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .248
K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .389

Totals 8 2 4 2 1 2 3

BATTING: 2B - M Scutaro (4, J Towers). RBI - D Johnson (33), M Scutaro (12).
2-out RBI - M Scutaro. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Suzuki 1.
GIDP - M Kotsay, M Ellis. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 00 -- 0
OAKLAND - 02 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Towers 2 4 2 2 1 2 0 5.70

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
L DiNardo 2 2 0 0 0 3 0 2.38

Pitches-strikes: J Towers 39-26; L DiNardo 26-21. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Towers 4-0; L DiNardo 1-2. Batters faced: J Towers 9; L DiNardo 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Tony Randazzo. 1B--Charlie Reliford. 2B--Greg Gibson. 3B--Larry
Vanover.

Weather: 73 degrees, clear. Wind: 6 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY VERNON WELLS (10) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 3RD OFF LENNY DINARDO.
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1, OAKLAND 2

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A RIOS (.286, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY FRANK THOMAS SCORED ALEX RIOS.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, F THOMAS ON FIRST, T GLAUS ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 2
OAKLAND 2 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A HILL (.272, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY AARON HILL SCORED TROY GLAUS.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, A HILL ON SECOND, F THOMAS ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 3
OAKLAND 2 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: C THIGPEN (.357, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ADAM LIND SCORED FRANK THOMAS.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, A LIND ON FIRST, C THIGPEN ON SECOND, A HILL
ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 4
OAKLAND 2 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: J PHILLIPS (.211, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY LENNY DINARDO ALLOWED AARON HILL TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 5 RUNS IN, J PHILLIPS ON FIRST, A LIND ON SECOND, C
THIGPEN ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 5
OAKLAND 2 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R CLAYTON (.229, 0-FOR-1)</div>