AL: TORONTO (40-42) at OAKLAND (42-40) <h3>Blanton looks to get slumping A's on track</h3> <div class="pre">Toronto (40-42) at Oakland (42-40) 10:05 pm EDT</div> OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - Joe Blanton takes the hilllooking to pitch the Oakland Athletics out of their recent rutagainst the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. Blanton (7-4, 3.24 ERA) has been outstanding for Oakland,allowing three runs or less in each of his last six starts. Oakland, which has lost eight of 11, hopes that Blanton's recenthot stretch translates into a much-needed win. In his last start Blanton, who is 2-0 with a 2.15 ERA in hislast four starts, surrendered three runs and six hits in 6 1/3innings in a no-decision against Cleveland on Thursday. Meanwhile, Oakland will be facing an unknown commodity inToronto rookie Jesse Litsch. Litsch (1-2, 6.62) is starting inplace of the injured A.J. Burnett, who again was placed on the15-day disabled list with a sore shoulder, just three days afterbeing activated. Litsch, who never has faced Oakland, last pitched on May 30 andlasted just two-thirds of an inning, yielding five runs and fourhits to the New York Yankees. Toronto took the series opener on, 11-7, thanks to two homersand a career-high four hits from Vernon Wells.
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TORONTO AT OAKLAND -- LINEUPS TORONTO OAKLAND AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Vernon Wells CF .256 11 45 Shannon Stewart LF .304 7 26 Gregg Zaun C .222 3 19 Mark Kotsay CF .241 1 10 Alex Rios RF .288 17 46 Nick Swisher RF .269 10 45 Troy Glaus 3B .279 11 36 Jack Cust DH .281 14 38 Frank Thomas DH .250 14 43 Eric Chavez 3B .248 12 42 Matt Stairs 1B .298 12 29 Dan Johnson 1B .274 10 35 Aaron Hill 2B .272 9 46 Mark Ellis 2B .274 8 41 Adam Lind LF .234 8 30 Bobby Crosby SS .231 6 28 John Mcdonald SS .294 1 10 Jason Kendall C .225 2 21 Jesse Litsch RHP (1-2, 6.62) Joe Blanton RHP (7-4, 3.24)</div>
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND WARMUPS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH (1-2, 6.62) OAK - JOE BLANTON (7-4, 3.24) UMPIRES: HP - CHARLIE RELIFORD 1B - LARRY VANOVER 2B - GREG GIBSON 3B - TONY RANDAZZO WEATHER: 65 Degrees, clear WIND: 16 mph, out to right</div>
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND STARTING BATS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH AND GREGG ZAUN OAK - JOE BLANTON AND JASON KENDALL DUE UP FOR TORONTO: V WELLS (.256, 11 HR, 45 RBI) G ZAUN (.222, 3 HR, 19 RBI) A RIOS (.288, 17 HR, 46 RBI)</div>
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY ALEX RIOS SCORED GREGG ZAUN. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A RIOS ON THIRD, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1 OAKLAND 0 TOP, 1ST DUE UP FOR TORONTO: T GLAUS (.279, 11 HR, 36 RBI)</div>
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TORONTO 1 1 2 0 OAKLAND 0 0 1 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH OAK - JOE BLANTON DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.304, 7 HR, 26 RBI) M KOTSAY (.241, 1 HR, 10 RBI) N SWISHER (.269, 10 HR, 45 RBI)</div>
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TORONTO (1) VS OAKLAND (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .255 G Zaun c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .229 A Rios rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .290 T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277 F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .249 M Stairs 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298 A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 A Lind lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234 J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 Totals 5 1 2 1 0 1 2 BATTING: 2B - G Zaun (7, J Blanton). RBI - A Rios (47). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 1. OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 M Kotsay cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 N Swisher rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 J Cust dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281 E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: E - M Kotsay (1, throw). ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO - 1 -- 1 OAKLAND - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era J Litsch 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.62 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.29 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 18-12. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 0-2. Batters faced: J Blanton 5. UMPIRES: HP--Charlie Reliford. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Greg Gibson. 3B--Tony Randazzo. Weather: 70 degrees, clear. Wind: 16 mph, out to right.</div>
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND CONFIRMED STARTERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH OAK - JOE BLANTON</div>
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE GROUND OUT BY MARK KOTSAY SCORED SHANNON STEWART. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1 OAKLAND 1 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: N SWISHER (.269, 10 HR, 45 RBI)</div>
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TORONTO 1 1 2 1 OAKLAND 1 1 1 1 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH OAK - JOE BLANTON DUE UP FOR TORONTO: M STAIRS (.298, 12 HR, 29 RBI) A HILL (.272, 9 HR, 46 RBI) A LIND (.234, 8 HR, 30 RBI)</div>
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TORONTO (1) VS OAKLAND (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .255 G Zaun c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .229 A Rios rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .290 T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277 F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .249 M Stairs 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298 A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 A Lind lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234 J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 Totals 5 1 2 1 0 1 2 BATTING: 2B - G Zaun (7, J Blanton). RBI - A Rios (47). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - G Zaun (2, throw). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .307 M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .239 N Swisher rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .269 J Cust dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .280 E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .248 D Johnson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .273 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 Totals 4 1 1 1 2 1 3 BATTING: RBI - M Kotsay (11). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Johnson 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - S Stewart (8, 2nd base off J Litsch/G Zaun), N Swisher (2, 2nd base off J Litsch/G Zaun). FIELDING: E - M Kotsay (1, throw). ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO - 1 -- 1 OAKLAND - 1 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era J Litsch 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 6.75 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.29 Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 25-11; J Blanton 18-12. Ground balls-fly balls: J Litsch 1-1; J Blanton 0-2. Batters faced: J Litsch 6; J Blanton 5. UMPIRES: HP--Charlie Reliford. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Greg Gibson. 3B--Tony Randazzo. Weather: 70 degrees, clear. Wind: 16 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 1 0 1 2 1 OAKLAND 1 1 1 1 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH OAK - JOE BLANTON DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M ELLIS (.274, 8 HR, 41 RBI) B CROSBY (.231, 6 HR, 28 RBI) J KENDALL (.225, 2 HR, 21 RBI)</div>
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TORONTO (1) VS OAKLAND (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .255 G Zaun c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .229 A Rios rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .290 T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277 F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .249 M Stairs 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 A Lind lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .233 J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 Totals 8 1 2 1 0 2 2 BATTING: 2B - G Zaun (7, J Blanton). RBI - A Rios (47). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - G Zaun (2, throw). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .307 M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .239 N Swisher rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .269 J Cust dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .280 E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .248 D Johnson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .273 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 Totals 4 1 1 1 2 1 3 BATTING: RBI - M Kotsay (11). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Johnson 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - S Stewart (8, 2nd base off J Litsch/G Zaun), N Swisher (2, 2nd base off J Litsch/G Zaun). FIELDING: E - M Kotsay (1, throw). ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO - 10 -- 1 OAKLAND - 1 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era J Litsch 1 1 1 0 2 1 0 6.27 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 2 2 1 1 0 2 0 3.26 Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 25-11; J Blanton 28-20. Ground balls-fly balls: J Litsch 1-1; J Blanton 1-3. Batters faced: J Litsch 6; J Blanton 8. UMPIRES: HP--Charlie Reliford. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Greg Gibson. 3B--Tony Randazzo. Weather: 70 degrees, clear. Wind: 16 mph, out to right.</div>
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY MARK KOTSAY SCORED BOBBY CROSBY. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M KOTSAY ON FIRST, S STEWART ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1 OAKLAND 2 BOTTOM, 2ND DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: N SWISHER (.269, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TORONTO 1 0 1 2 2 OAKLAND 1 1 2 3 1 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH OAK - JOE BLANTON DUE UP FOR TORONTO: J MCDONALD (.294, 1 HR, 10 RBI) V WELLS (.255, 0-FOR-1) G ZAUN (.229, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TORONTO (1) VS OAKLAND (2) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .255 G Zaun c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .229 A Rios rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .290 T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277 F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .249 M Stairs 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 A Lind lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .233 J McDonald ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 Totals 8 1 2 1 0 2 2 BATTING: 2B - G Zaun (7, J Blanton). RBI - A Rios (47). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - G Zaun (2, throw); T Glaus (4, throw). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .306 M Kotsay cf 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 .246 N Swisher rf 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .269 J Cust dh 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 .278 E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .248 D Johnson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .273 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 B Crosby ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .234 J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .224 Totals 10 2 3 2 3 2 8 BATTING: RBI - M Kotsay 2 (12). 2-out RBI - M Kotsay. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Cust 2, D Johnson 1. Team LOB - 5. BASERUNNING: SB - S Stewart (8, 2nd base off J Litsch/G Zaun), N Swisher (2, 2nd base off J Litsch/G Zaun). FIELDING: E - M Kotsay (1, throw). ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO - 10 -- 1 OAKLAND - 11 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era J Litsch 2 3 2 0 3 2 0 5.95 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 2 2 1 1 0 2 0 3.26 WP - J Litsch. Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 48-25; J Blanton 28-20. Ground balls-fly balls: J Litsch 2-2; J Blanton 1-3. Batters faced: J Litsch 13; J Blanton 8. UMPIRES: HP--Charlie Reliford. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Greg Gibson. 3B--Tony Randazzo. Weather: 70 degrees, clear. Wind: 16 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 1 0 0 1 2 2 OAKLAND 1 1 2 3 1 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH OAK - JOE BLANTON DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: E CHAVEZ (.248, 0-FOR-0, BB) D JOHNSON (.273, 0-FOR-1) M ELLIS (.273, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TORONTO (1) VS OAKLAND (2) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg V Wells cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254 G Zaun c 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .227 A Rios rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .290 T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277 F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .249 M Stairs 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 A Lind lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .233 J McDonald ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 Totals 11 1 2 1 0 2 2 BATTING: 2B - G Zaun (7, J Blanton). RBI - A Rios (47). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - G Zaun (2, throw); T Glaus (4, throw). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .306 M Kotsay cf 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 .246 N Swisher rf 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .269 J Cust dh 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 .278 E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .248 D Johnson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .273 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 B Crosby ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .234 J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .224 Totals 10 2 3 2 3 2 8 BATTING: RBI - M Kotsay 2 (12). 2-out RBI - M Kotsay. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Cust 2, D Johnson 1. Team LOB - 5. BASERUNNING: SB - S Stewart (8, 2nd base off J Litsch/G Zaun), N Swisher (2, 2nd base off J Litsch/G Zaun). FIELDING: E - M Kotsay (1, throw). ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO - 100 -- 1 OAKLAND - 11 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era J Litsch 2 3 2 0 3 2 0 5.95 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 3 2 1 1 0 2 0 3.24 WP - J Litsch. Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 48-25; J Blanton 34-25. Ground balls-fly balls: J Litsch 2-2; J Blanton 2-5. Batters faced: J Litsch 13; J Blanton 11. UMPIRES: HP--Charlie Reliford. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Greg Gibson. 3B--Tony Randazzo. Weather: 70 degrees, clear. Wind: 16 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 1 0 0 1 2 2 OAKLAND 1 1 0 2 5 1 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - JESSE LITSCH OAK - JOE BLANTON DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A RIOS (.290, 1-FOR-1, RBI) T GLAUS (.277, 0-FOR-1) F THOMAS (.249, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TORONTO (1) VS OAKLAND (2) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg V Wells cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254 G Zaun c 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .227 A Rios rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .290 T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .277 F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .249 M Stairs 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 A Hill 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 A Lind lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .233 J McDonald ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 Totals 11 1 2 1 0 2 2 BATTING: 2B - G Zaun (7, J Blanton). RBI - A Rios (47). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - G Zaun (2, throw); T Glaus (4, throw). DP: 1 (J McDonald-M Stairs). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .306 M Kotsay cf 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 .246 N Swisher rf 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 .269 J Cust dh 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 .278 E Chavez 3b 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .250 D Johnson 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .272 M Ellis 2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275 B Crosby ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .233 J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .224 Totals 14 2 5 2 3 2 10 BATTING: RBI - M Kotsay 2 (12). 2-out RBI - M Kotsay. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Cust 2, D Johnson 1. GIDP - D Johnson. Team LOB - 6. BASERUNNING: SB - S Stewart (8, 2nd base off J Litsch/G Zaun), N Swisher (2, 2nd base off J Litsch/G Zaun). FIELDING: E - M Kotsay (1, throw). ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO - 100 -- 1 OAKLAND - 110 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era J Litsch 3 5 2 0 3 2 0 5.66 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 3 2 1 1 0 2 0 3.24 WP - J Litsch. Pitches-strikes: J Litsch 60-34; J Blanton 34-25. Ground balls-fly balls: J Litsch 4-3; J Blanton 2-5. Batters faced: J Litsch 17; J Blanton 11. UMPIRES: HP--Charlie Reliford. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Greg Gibson. 3B--Tony Randazzo. Weather: 70 degrees, clear. Wind: 16 mph, out to right.</div>
