GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: OAKLAND (61-64) at TORONTO (63-60)

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: C Janssen relieved S Downs.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, S STEWART ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 6
TORONTO 4 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M Piazza (.269, 0-FOR-4)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 12 1
TORONTO 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 9 1 (BOT 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - ALAN EMBREE
TOR - CASEY JANSSEN

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: C THIGPEN (.250, 0-FOR-3)
J MCDONALD (.261, 1-FOR-3)
R JOHNSON (.272, 1-FOR-3, HBP)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

<div class="pre">OAKLAND (6) VS TORONTO (4) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 4 1 2 0 1 1 1 .295
N Swisher 1b 5 1 3 2 0 0 4 .260
J Cust rf 5 1 1 0 0 2 3 .271
M Piazza dh 5 0 0 0 0 0 3 .268
M Ellis 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .260
J DaVanon cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .308
M Scutaro ss 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 .261
J Hannahan 3b 4 1 2 3 0 2 0 .227
K Suzuki c 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .241

Totals 39 6 12 6 1 9 16

BATTING: 2B - J Hannahan (3, S Marcum); S Stewart (15, J Towers). HR - N
Swisher (16, 1st inning off S Marcum 1 on, 0 Out), J Hannahan (1, 3rd inning
off S Marcum 2 on, 2 Out). RBI - N Swisher 2 (61), M Scutaro (35), J Hannahan 3
(5). 2-out RBI - M Scutaro, J Hannahan 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - M Piazza 1, N Swisher 2. Team LOB - 7.

FIELDING: E - M Scutaro (12, throw). DP: 1 (J Hannahan-M Ellis-N Swisher).


TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 3 1 1 0 0 2 1 .272
L Overbay 1b 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 .258
A Rios rf 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .311
V Wells cf 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .264
F Thomas dh 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .257
D McGowan pr-dh 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .286
T Glaus 3b 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 .257
R Adams 2b 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .167
a-A Hill ph-2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .262
C Thigpen c 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .250
J McDonald ss 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .261

Totals 33 4 9 4 0 6 10

a-flied out to right for R Adams in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - V Wells (35, J Blanton); L Overbay (24, A Brown); F Thomas (22, A
Brown); T Glaus (16, A Brown). RBI - V Wells (71), L Overbay (37), F Thomas
(74), T Glaus (51). 2-out RBI - V Wells, F Thomas, T Glaus. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - F Thomas 1, A Rios 1, A Hill 1, C Thigpen 1. GIDP - L
Overbay. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: E - T Glaus (7, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
OAKLAND - 204 000 000 -- 6
TORONTO - 100 000 03 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Blanton 7 6 1 1 0 6 0 3.84
A Brown 2/3 3 3 3 0 0 0 3.00
A Embree 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.58

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
S Marcum 3 9 6 6 1 4 2 3.65
J Frasor 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 4.23
J Towers 3 1/3 2 0 0 0 2 0 5.19
S Downs 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.27
C Janssen 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.31

HBP - R Johnson (by A Brown). Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 104-69; A Brown
23-12; A Embree 6-3; S Marcum 75-47; J Frasor 33-21; J Towers 35-24; S Downs
2-1; C Janssen 1-1. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 9-6; A Brown 0-2; A
Embree 0-1; S Marcum 2-3; J Frasor 0-3; J Towers 4-4; S Downs 1-0; C Janssen
0-1. Batters faced: J Blanton 27; A Brown 6; A Embree 1; S Marcum 19; J Frasor
7; J Towers 12; S Downs 1; C Janssen 1.

UMPIRES: HP--James Hoye. 1B--Phil Cuzzi. 2B--Tom Hallion. 3B--Mike Estabrook.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: D Brown in right field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 6
TORONTO 4 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: C Thigpen (.250, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO - PITCHING CHANGE
OAK: HUSTON STREET (2-2, 2.64) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 6, TORONTO 4

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: C THIGPEN (.250, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: H Street relieved A Embree.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 6
TORONTO 4 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: C Thigpen (.250, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: G Zaun hit for C Thigpen.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 6
TORONTO 4 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: G Zaun (.244, 6 HR, 32 RBI)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Stairs hit for J McDonald.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 6
TORONTO 4 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: M Stairs (.289, 15 HR, 44 RBI)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 12 1
TORONTO 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 4 9 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: OAK - JOE BLANTON, ANDREW BROWN (8TH), ALAN EMBREE (8TH), HUSTON
STREET (9TH) AND KURT SUZUKI

TOR - SHAUN MARCUM, JASON FRASOR (4TH), JOSH TOWERS
(6TH), SCOTT DOWNS (9TH), CASEY JANSSEN (9TH) AND CURTIS
THIGPEN

HOME RUNS: OAK - NICK SWISHER (16) OFF SHAUN MARCUM IN THE 1ST, 1 ON
JACK HANNAHAN (1) OFF SHAUN MARCUM IN THE 3RD, 2 ON

TOR - NONE</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 12 1
TORONTO 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 4 9 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: OAK - JOE BLANTON, ANDREW BROWN (8TH), ALAN EMBREE (8TH), HUSTON
STREET (9TH) AND KURT SUZUKI

TOR - SHAUN MARCUM, JASON FRASOR (4TH), JOSH TOWERS
(6TH), SCOTT DOWNS (9TH), CASEY JANSSEN (9TH) AND CURTIS
THIGPEN


WP - JOE BLANTON (11-8)
LP - SHAUN MARCUM (10-5)
SAVE - HUSTON STREET (11)

HOME RUNS: OAK - NICK SWISHER (16) OFF SHAUN MARCUM IN THE 1ST, 1 ON
JACK HANNAHAN (1) OFF SHAUN MARCUM IN THE 3RD, 2 ON

TOR - NONE


TIME: 2:47 ATT: 27,193

PROBABLES: OAK - DAN HAREN (13-4, 2.54)
TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN (8-7, 4.14)</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

<div class="pre">OAKLAND (6) VS TORONTO (4) - FINAL

OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 4 1 2 0 1 1 1 .295
N Swisher 1b 5 1 3 2 0 0 4 .260
J Cust rf 5 1 1 0 0 2 3 .271
D Brown rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Piazza dh 5 0 0 0 0 0 3 .268
M Ellis 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .260
J DaVanon cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .308
M Scutaro ss 4 1 2 1 0 1 0 .261
J Hannahan 3b 4 1 2 3 0 2 0 .227
K Suzuki c 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .241

Totals 39 6 12 6 1 9 16

BATTING: 2B - J Hannahan (3, S Marcum); S Stewart (15, J Towers). HR - N
Swisher (16, 1st inning off S Marcum 1 on, 0 Out), J Hannahan (1, 3rd inning
off S Marcum 2 on, 2 Out). RBI - N Swisher 2 (61), M Scutaro (35), J Hannahan 3
(5). 2-out RBI - M Scutaro, J Hannahan 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - M Piazza 1, N Swisher 2. Team LOB - 7.

FIELDING: E - M Scutaro (12, throw). DP: 1 (J Hannahan-M Ellis-N Swisher).


TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 4 1 1 0 0 2 1 .270
L Overbay 1b 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 .258
A Rios rf 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .311
V Wells cf 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .264
F Thomas dh 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .257
D McGowan pr-dh 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .286
T Glaus 3b 4 0 1 1 0 1 0 .257
R Adams 2b 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .167
a-A Hill ph-2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .262
C Thigpen c 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .250
b-G Zaun ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
J McDonald ss 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .261
c-M Stairs ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .288

Totals 36 4 9 4 0 7 10

a-flied out to right for R Adams in the 8th; b-grounded to pitcher for C
Thigpen in the 9th; c-struck out swinging for J Mcdonald in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - V Wells (35, J Blanton); L Overbay (24, A Brown); F Thomas (22, A
Brown); T Glaus (16, A Brown). RBI - V Wells (71), L Overbay (37), F Thomas
(74), T Glaus (51). 2-out RBI - V Wells, F Thomas, T Glaus. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - F Thomas 1, A Rios 1, A Hill 1, C Thigpen 1. GIDP - L
Overbay. Team LOB - 6.

FIELDING: E - T Glaus (7, throw).


----------------------------------------------------
OAKLAND - 204 000 000 -- 6
TORONTO - 100 000 030 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Blanton (W, 11-8) 7 6 1 1 0 6 0 3.84
A Brown 2/3 3 3 3 0 0 0 3.00
A Embree (H, 10) 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.58
H Street (S, 11) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.56

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
S Marcum (L, 10-5) 3 9 6 6 1 4 2 3.65
J Frasor 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 4.23
J Towers 3 1/3 2 0 0 0 2 0 5.19
S Downs 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.27
C Janssen 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.31

HBP - R Johnson (by A Brown). Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 104-69; A Brown
23-12; A Embree 6-3; H Street 15-10; S Marcum 75-47; J Frasor 33-21; J Towers
35-24; S Downs 2-1; C Janssen 1-1. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 9-6; A
Brown 0-2; A Embree 0-1; H Street 2-0; S Marcum 2-3; J Frasor 0-3; J Towers
4-4; S Downs 1-0; C Janssen 0-1. Batters faced: J Blanton 27; A Brown 6; A
Embree 1; H Street 3; S Marcum 19; J Frasor 7; J Towers 12; S Downs 1; C
Janssen 1.

UMPIRES: HP--James Hoye. 1B--Phil Cuzzi. 2B--Tom Hallion. 3B--Mike Estabrook.

T--2:47. Att--27,193.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
OAKLAND 6
TORONTO 4 FINAL</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OAKLAND (6) AT TORONTO (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OAKLAND 1ST: S Stewart singled to left. N Swisher homered to center,
S Stewart scored. J Cust struck out looking. M Piazza fouled out to right.
M Ellis struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TORONTO 0.

TORONTO 1ST: R Johnson singled to left. L Overbay grounded into double
play, third to second to first, R Johnson out at second. A Rios singled to
center. V Wells doubled to deep center, A Rios scored. F Thomas popped out to
second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TORONTO 1.

OAKLAND 3RD: J Cust singled to center. M Piazza flied out to center.
M Ellis reached on infield single to third, J Cust to second, J Cust to third on
throwing error by third baseman T Glaus. J DaVanon struck out looking.
M Scutaro singled to left center, J Cust scored, M Ellis to second. J Hannahan
homered to right center, M Ellis and M Scutaro scored. K Suzuki singled to
center. S Stewart struck out looking. (4 Runs, 5 Hits, 1 Error) OAKLAND 6,
TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 8TH: A Brown relieved J Blanton. R Johnson hit by pitch. L Overbay
doubled to right, R Johnson scored. A Rios popped out to shortstop. V Wells
popped out to second. F Thomas doubled to deep right, L Overbay scored.
D McGowan ran for F Thomas. T Glaus doubled to left, D McGowan scored. A Embree
relieved A Brown. A Hill hit for R Adams. A Hill flied out to right. (3 Runs,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TORONTO 4.</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OAKLAND (6) AT TORONTO (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oakland Starting Lineups -- S Stewart LF, N Swisher 1B, J Cust RF, M Piazza DH,
M Ellis 2B, J DaVanon CF, M Scutaro SS, J Hannahan 3B, K Suzuki C, J Blanton RHP.

Toronto Starting Lineups -- R Johnson LF, L Overbay 1B, A Rios RF, V Wells CF,
F Thomas DH, T Glaus 3B, R Adams 2B, C Thigpen C, J McDonald SS, S Marcum RHP.

Umpires -- James Hoye (HP), Phil Cuzzi (1B), Tom Hallion (2B), Mike Estabrook (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


OAKLAND 1ST: S Stewart singled to left. N Swisher homered to center,
S Stewart scored. J Cust struck out looking. M Piazza fouled out to right.
M Ellis struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TORONTO 0.

TORONTO 1ST: R Johnson singled to left. L Overbay grounded into double
play, third to second to first, R Johnson out at second. A Rios singled to
center. V Wells doubled to deep center, A Rios scored. F Thomas popped out to
second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TORONTO 1.

OAKLAND 2ND: J DaVanon lined out to third. M Scutaro reached on infield
single to third. J Hannahan doubled to deep right, M Scutaro to third.
K Suzuki grounded out to pitcher. S Stewart walked. N Swisher grounded out to
second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 2ND: T Glaus struck out looking. R Adams struck out looking.
C Thigpen lined out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TORONTO 1.

OAKLAND 3RD: J Cust singled to center. M Piazza flied out to center.
M Ellis reached on infield single to third, J Cust to second, J Cust to third on
throwing error by third baseman T Glaus. J DaVanon struck out looking.
M Scutaro singled to left center, J Cust scored, M Ellis to second. J Hannahan
homered to right center, M Ellis and M Scutaro scored. K Suzuki singled to
center. S Stewart struck out looking. (4 Runs, 5 Hits, 1 Error) OAKLAND 6,
TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 3RD: J McDonald reached on infield single to shortstop. R Johnson
struck out swinging. L Overbay grounded out to first, J McDonald to second.
A Rios grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TORONTO 1.

OAKLAND 4TH: J Frasor relieved S Marcum. N Swisher singled to center.
J Cust struck out looking. M Piazza lined out to second. M Ellis flied out to
center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 4TH: V Wells grounded out to third. F Thomas flied out to left.
T Glaus safe at first on throwing error by shortstop M Scutaro. R Adams singled
to right, T Glaus to second. C Thigpen grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 1 Error) OAKLAND 6, TORONTO 1.

OAKLAND 5TH: J DaVanon lined out to center. M Scutaro struck out looking.
J Hannahan struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 5TH: J McDonald flied out to left. R Johnson struck out looking.
L Overbay singled to shallow center. A Rios grounded into fielder's choice to
third, L Overbay out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TORONTO 1.

OAKLAND 6TH: J Towers relieved J Frasor. K Suzuki popped out to second.
S Stewart lined out to center. N Swisher singled to center. J Cust grounded out
to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 6TH: V Wells grounded out to second. F Thomas lined out to
shortstop. T Glaus grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
OAKLAND 6, TORONTO 1.

OAKLAND 7TH: M Piazza grounded out to third. M Ellis grounded out to
shortstop. J DaVanon struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6,
TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 7TH: R Adams lined out to right. C Thigpen struck out looking.
J McDonald struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TORONTO 1.

OAKLAND 8TH: M Scutaro lined out to third. J Hannahan struck out looking.
K Suzuki grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6,
TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 8TH: A Brown relieved J Blanton. R Johnson hit by pitch. L Overbay
doubled to right, R Johnson scored. A Rios popped out to shortstop. V Wells
popped out to second. F Thomas doubled to deep right, L Overbay scored.
D McGowan ran for F Thomas. T Glaus doubled to left, D McGowan scored. A Embree
relieved A Brown. A Hill hit for R Adams. A Hill flied out to right. (3 Runs,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TORONTO 4.

OAKLAND 9TH: A Hill at second base. S Stewart doubled to deep center.
N Swisher flied out to right. S Downs relieved J Towers. J Cust grounded out to
catcher. C Janssen relieved S Downs. M Piazza flied out to right. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TORONTO 4.

TORONTO 9TH: D Brown in right field. H Street relieved A Embree. G Zaun hit
for C Thigpen. G Zaun grounded out to pitcher. M Stairs hit for J McDonald.
M Stairs struck out swinging. R Johnson grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) OAKLAND 6, TORONTO 4.</div>

 

Hannahan's homer backs Blanton as Athletics beat Blue Jays

<h3>OAKLAND 6, TORONTO 4</h3>TORONTO (Ticker) -- Rookie Jack Hannahan scoffed at ShaunMarcum's winning streak and the Toronto Blue Jays' homedominance.


Hannahan hit his first career home run, a three-run shot as partof a four-run third inning, and Joe Blanton threw seveneffective innings as the Oakland Athletics defeated the BlueJays, 6-4, on Monday in the opener of a three-game series.

Nick Swisher also homered for Oakland (62-64), which has wonfive of seven but remained 9 1/2 games behind the SeattleMariners (69-52) in the American League wild card race.

Vernon Wells had an RBI double for Toronto, which had won fourof six here and has the second-best home mark in the majorssince May 11 at 32-14.


"We didn't take advantage of the few opportunities we had,"Wells said. "If you don't do that, you're not going to winwhether it's at home or on the road."


With the Athletics leading, 3-1, and runners on second andthird, Hannahan, who was acquired from Detroit last Tuesday,blasted a hanging curveball on a 1-1 count just over the rightfield wall to put Oakland up 6-1.


"It felt great," Hannahan said. "I was just looking for a<div class="pre">fastball up in the zone. He threw me a curveball and I was</div>just lucky enough to put the bat on it. I'll definitely putthis (ball) in the collection."


That was final inning for Marcum, who had won five straightstarts but suffered his worst outing since July 7. Theconverted reliever, who is 9-3 in his last 19 starts, allowedsix runs and nine hits in three innings.


"I was terrible," Marcum said. "I just didn't locate very well.They good a good job of putting the wood on the ball. It wasjust one of those days and I've just got to move on."

Oakland jumped on Marcum (10-5) early as Shannon Stewart led offthe game with a single and Swisher smashed a two-run homer toright-center field - his 16th of the season - for a 2-0 lead.

"When the roof's closed here, just like any ballpark, it's avery good place to hit," Swisher said. "Marcum keeps the balldown in the zone, but to me he left it up a little bit. That'sgood to see - when a pitcher's not hitting the spot like hewants to we're trying to make him pay."


Toronto got one back in the first as Alex Rios hit a two-outsingle and scored on Wells' double to center.


However, that was the lone run Toronto scored off Blanton, whohas won four of his last five starts. The burly righthanderallowed just one run and six hits in seven innings. The26-year-old notched six strikeouts and did not walk a batter.

"The hitters did a nice job of getting me the early lead," saidBlanton, who improved to 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA against the BlueJays this year. "I really had everything working and that givesyou more confidence to go with any pitch on any count."

Blanton (11-8), who notched a complete-game victory over Torontoon July 3, threw 69 of 104 pitches for strikes and retired nineof the last 10 batters he faced.


Blanton gave way to Aaron Brown in the eighth, who did not fareas well. Brown hit the leadoff man Reed Johnson, who scored whenLyle Overbay reached on an error by the first baseman Swisher,cutting the lead to 6-2. Brown then allowed two-out, RBIdoubles to Frank Thomas and Troy Glaus to make it 6-4.

"He threw a great ballgame," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "Ireally like the way he used his curveball. He was veryaggressive and it seemed like he could drop that curveball atany count."


The Blue Jays' rally fell short, though, as Alan Embree came inand got Aaron Hill to pop out to shallow right for the final outof the frame. Closer Huston Street worked the ninth for his11th save in 13 chances.

 

Hannahan's homer backs Blanton as Athletics beat Blue Jays

<h3>OAKLAND 6, TORONTO 4</h3>TORONTO (Ticker) -- Rookie Jack Hannahan scoffed at ShaunMarcum's winning streak and the Toronto Blue Jays' homedominance.


Hannahan hit his first career home run, a three-run shot as partof a four-run third inning, and Joe Blanton threw seveneffective innings as the Oakland Athletics defeated the BlueJays, 6-4, on Monday in the opener of a three-game series.

Nick Swisher also homered for Oakland (62-64), which has wonfive of seven but remained 9 1/2 games behind the SeattleMariners (69-52) in the American League wild card race.

Vernon Wells had an RBI double for Toronto, which had won fourof six here and has the second-best home mark in the majorssince May 11 at 32-14.


"We didn't take advantage of the few opportunities we had,"Wells said. "If you don't do that, you're not going to winwhether it's at home or on the road."


With the Athletics leading, 3-1, and runners on second andthird, Hannahan, who was acquired from Detroit last Tuesday,blasted a hanging curveball on a 1-1 count just over the rightfield wall to put Oakland up 6-1.


"It felt great," Hannahan said. "I was just looking for a<div class="pre">fastball up in the zone. He threw me a curveball and I was</div>just lucky enough to put the bat on it. I'll definitely putthis (ball) in the collection."


That was final inning for Marcum, who had won five straightstarts but suffered his worst outing since July 7. Theconverted reliever, who is 9-3 in his last 19 starts, allowedsix runs and nine hits in three innings.


"I was terrible," Marcum said. "I just didn't locate very well.They good a good job of putting the wood on the ball. It wasjust one of those days and I've just got to move on."

Oakland jumped on Marcum (10-5) early as Shannon Stewart led offthe game with a single and Swisher smashed a two-run homer toright-center field - his 16th of the season - for a 2-0 lead.

"When the roof's closed here, just like any ballpark, it's avery good place to hit," Swisher said. "Marcum keeps the balldown in the zone, but to me he left it up a little bit. That'sgood to see - when a pitcher's not hitting the spot like hewants to we're trying to make him pay."


Toronto got one back in the first as Alex Rios hit a two-outsingle and scored on Wells' double to center.


However, that was the lone run Toronto scored off Blanton, whohas won four of his last five starts. The burly righthanderallowed just one run and six hits in seven innings. The26-year-old notched six strikeouts and did not walk a batter.

"The hitters did a nice job of getting me the early lead," saidBlanton, who improved to 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA against the BlueJays this year. "I really had everything working and that givesyou more confidence to go with any pitch on any count."

Blanton (11-8), who notched a complete-game victory over Torontoon July 3, threw 69 of 104 pitches for strikes and retired nineof the last 10 batters he faced.


Blanton gave way to Andrew Brown in the eighth, who did not fareas well. Brown hit the leadoff man Reed Johnson, who scoredwhen Lyle Overbay reached on an error by the first basemanSwisher, cutting the lead to 6-2. Brown then allowed two-out,RBI doubles to Frank Thomas and Troy Glaus to make it 6-4.

"He threw a great ballgame," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "Ireally like the way he used his curveball. He was veryaggressive and it seemed like he could drop that curveball atany count."


The Blue Jays' rally fell short, though, as Alan Embree came inand got Aaron Hill to pop out to shallow right for the final outof the frame. Closer Huston Street worked the ninth for his11th save in 13 chances.