GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: OAKLAND (63-64) at TORONTO (63-62)

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

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OAKLAND (4) AT TORONTO (1) - HOW THEY SCORED
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TORONTO 5TH: A Hill homered to center. G Zaun lined out to right. R Adams
lined out to right. J McDonald lined out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
OAKLAND 0, TORONTO 1.

OAKLAND 7TH: J DaVanon safe at first on error by first baseman M Stairs.
N Swisher struck out looking. J Cust homered to right, J DaVanon scored.
M Scutaro grounded out to third. D Johnson walked. M Ellis doubled to deep
center, D Johnson scored. J Hannahan safe at first on error by second baseman
A Hill, M Ellis scored. K Suzuki struck out looking. (4 Runs, 2 Hits,
2 Errors) OAKLAND 4, TORONTO 1.</div>

 

AL: OAKLAND at TORONTO

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OAKLAND (4) AT TORONTO (1) - EVENT LOG
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Oakland Starting Lineups -- S Stewart LF, J DaVanon CF, N Swisher RF, J Cust DH,
M Scutaro SS, D Johnson 1B, M Ellis 2B, J Hannahan 3B, K Suzuki C, E Loaiza RHP.

Toronto Starting Lineups -- R Johnson LF, M Stairs 1B, A Rios RF, V Wells CF,
F Thomas DH, A Hill 2B, G Zaun C, R Adams 3B, J McDonald SS, A Burnett RHP.

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

Gametime Weather: 68 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind in from right at 4 mph.


OAKLAND 1ST: S Stewart lined out to left. J DaVanon struck out swinging.
N Swisher struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TORONTO 0.

TORONTO 1ST: R Johnson fouled out to shortstop. M Stairs walked. A Rios
lined out to second. V Wells struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
OAKLAND 0, TORONTO 0.

OAKLAND 2ND: J Cust walked. M Scutaro grounded into double play, second to
shortstop to first, J Cust out at second. D Johnson grounded out to first.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TORONTO 0.

TORONTO 2ND: F Thomas walked. A Hill struck out swinging. G Zaun hit into
fielder's choice to right, F Thomas out at second. R Adams grounded out to
second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TORONTO 0.

OAKLAND 3RD: M Ellis struck out swinging. J Hannahan singled to left.
J Hannahan stole second. K Suzuki walked. S Stewart grounded into double play,
shortstop to first, K Suzuki out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
OAKLAND 0, TORONTO 0.

TORONTO 3RD: J McDonald lined out to shortstop. R Johnson flied out to
left. M Stairs struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0,
TORONTO 0.

OAKLAND 4TH: J DaVanon grounded out to shortstop. N Swisher grounded out
to first. J Cust struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0,
TORONTO 0.

TORONTO 4TH: A Rios popped out to first. V Wells struck out swinging.
F Thomas flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TORONTO 0.

OAKLAND 5TH: M Scutaro singled to center. D Johnson struck out swinging.
M Ellis grounded into double play, pitcher to shortstop to first, M Scutaro
out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TORONTO 0.

TORONTO 5TH: A Hill homered to center. G Zaun lined out to right. R Adams
lined out to right. J McDonald lined out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
OAKLAND 0, TORONTO 1.

OAKLAND 6TH: J Hannahan struck out swinging. K Suzuki struck out swinging.
S Stewart flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 6TH: R Johnson flied out to left. M Stairs doubled to deep right
center. A Rios lined out to left. V Wells popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TORONTO 1.

OAKLAND 7TH: J DaVanon safe at first on error by first baseman M Stairs.
N Swisher struck out looking. J Cust homered to right, J DaVanon scored.
M Scutaro grounded out to third. D Johnson walked. M Ellis doubled to deep
center, D Johnson scored. J Hannahan safe at first on error by second baseman
A Hill, M Ellis scored. K Suzuki struck out looking. (4 Runs, 2 Hits,
2 Errors) OAKLAND 4, TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 7TH: F Thomas fouled out to catcher. A Hill popped out to second.
G Zaun lined out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 4, TORONTO 1.

OAKLAND 8TH: B Wolfe relieved A Burnett. S Stewart grounded out to third.
J DaVanon singled to right. S Downs relieved B Wolfe. N Swisher singled to
center, J DaVanon to second. J Cust struck out looking. M Scutaro grounded
out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 4, TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 8TH: R Adams grounded out to shortstop. L Overbay hit for
J McDonald. L Overbay flied out to center. R Johnson singled to center.
A Embree relieved E Loaiza. C Thigpen hit for M Stairs. C Thigpen struck
out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 4, TORONTO 1.

OAKLAND 9TH: R Olmedo at shortstop. L Overbay at first base. J Frasor
relieved S Downs. D Johnson singled to right. M Ellis flied out to center.
J Hannahan struck out looking. K Suzuki popped out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) OAKLAND 4, TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 9TH: A Rios struck out swinging. V Wells lined out to right.
F Thomas doubled to deep center. A Hill flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) OAKLAND 4, TORONTO 1.</div>

 

Loaiza stars in long-awaited return

<h3>OAKLAND 4, TORONTO 1</h3>By Rod Mawhood
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


TORONTO (Ticker) -- Esteban Loaiza did his best to make up forlost time.


Loaiza threw 7 2/3 strong innings in his long-awaited seasondebut as the Oakland Athletics finished off a rare three-gamesweep at the Toronto Blue Jays with a 4-1 victory.

It was the fourth straight win for the Athletics, who notchedtheir first sweep at the Rogers Centre since 2001.

It has been a long road to the first start of the year for the35-year-old Loaiza (1-0), who opened the season on the disabledlist with a bulging disk in his neck. He later injured hisright knee while on rehab assignment, requiring surgery on May31.


But that all was forgotten on Wednesday afternoon as the veteranrighthander - a Blue Jay from 2000-02, carried a no-hitter intothe fifth inning before improving to 6-4 lifetime against hisformer team. Loaiza allowed a run and two hits, striking outfour and walking two.


Aaron Hill broke up Loaiza's no-hit bid in the fifth, drilling a2-2 pitch left-center field for his 13th home run. MattStairs' double with one out in the sixth was the only other hitLoaiza allowed.


Meanwhile, Toronto's A.J. Burnett (7-7), in his third startsince coming off the disabled list with tightness in hispitching shoulder, went seven innings but was able to hold ontoa 1-0 lead in part due to the defense behind him.


Jeff DaVanon led off the seventh by reaching on a error whenfirst baseman Matt Stairs was unable to bring in a throw fromshortstop John McDonald. Burnett struck out Nick Swisher, butJack Cust clobbered an 0-1 pitch into the Athletics' bullpen inright field for a 2-1 edge.


After Marcos Scutaro grounded out, Burnett walked Dan Johnsonbefore Mark Ellis doubled to deep center field to add anotherrun. Ellis scored directly after when the second baseman Hillwas unable to handle a grounder from rookie Jack Hannahan.

Only one of the four runs surrendered by Burnett in the seventhwas earned. The righthander also allowed four hits and threewalks along with nine strikeouts.


Burnett had won his previous two starts, allowing just threeruns and six hits over 13 2/3 frames.


Oakland lefthander Alan Embree allowed a hit and struck out twoin 1 1/3 innings for his 16th save.


With the win, the Athletics moved back to the .500 mark (64-64)for the first time since the All-Star break.

 

Loaiza stars in long-awaited return

<h3>OAKLAND 4, TORONTO 1</h3>By Rod Mawhood
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


TORONTO (Ticker) -- Esteban Loaiza did his best to make up forlost time.


Loaiza threw 7 2/3 strong innings in his long-awaited seasondebut as the Oakland Athletics finished off a rare three-gamesweep at the Toronto Blue Jays with a 4-1 victory on Wednesday.

It was the fourth straight win for the Athletics, who notchedtheir first sweep at the Rogers Centre since 2001.

It has been a long road to the first start of the year for the35-year-old Loaiza (1-0), who opened the season on the disabledlist with a bulging disk in his neck. He later injured hisright knee while on rehab assignment, requiring surgery on May31.


But that all was forgotten on Wednesday afternoon as the veteranrighthander - a Blue Jay from 2000-02 - carried a no-hitterinto the fifth inning before improving to 6-4 lifetime againsthis former team. Loaiza allowed a run and two hits, strikingout four and walking two.


"I felt great," Loaiza said. "I got one (a win) under my beltin my first start and I'm happy about it. I just got tocontinue now building up and staying strong."


Aaron Hill broke up Loaiza's no-hit bid in the fifth, drilling a2-2 pitch left-center field for his 13th home run. MattStairs' double with one out in the sixth was the only other hitLoaiza allowed.


Despite the home run, Hill was not a happy following thecontest. The American League leader in RBI among second basemanwith 64, Hill is hitting just .156 (7-of-45) in his last 12games.


Meanwhile, the Blue Jays have been held under 10 hits in theirlast five games.


"You know what, I'm just tired of saying I'm going to tip mycap" Hill said. "That's nothing but ourselves. We're just notswinging it, we're just not getting it done when we need too."

Meanwhile, Toronto's A.J. Burnett (7-7), in his third startsince coming off the disabled list with tightness in hispitching shoulder, went seven innings but was able to hold ontoa 1-0 lead in part due to the defense behind him.


Jeff DaVanon led off the seventh by reaching on a error whenfirst baseman Matt Stairs was unable to bring in a throw fromshortstop John McDonald. Burnett struck out Nick Swisher, butJack Cust clobbered an 0-1 pitch into the Athletics' bullpen inright field for a 2-1 edge.


"He (Burnett) just left a pitch a little bit towards the heartof the plate," Cust said. "It was the same pitch I fouled offearlier in the game, I just didn't miss it that time."

After Marcos Scutaro grounded out, Burnett walked Dan Johnsonbefore Mark Ellis doubled to deep center field to add anotherrun. Ellis scored directly after when the second baseman Hillwas unable to handle a grounder from rookie Jack Hannahan.

Only one of the four runs surrendered by Burnett in the seventhwas earned. The righthander also allowed four hits and threewalks along with nine strikeouts.


"Every loss is a tough loss," said Burnett, who is now onlythree strikeouts shy of 1,000 for his career. "I missed a spotwith a fastball and the guy hit it where he was supposed to.That's the only one (pitch) I'd take back."


Burnett had won his previous two starts, allowing just threeruns and six hits over 13 2/3 frames.


Oakland lefthander Alan Embree allowed a hit and struck out twoin 1 1/3 innings for his 16th save.


With the win, the Athletics moved back to the .500 mark (64-64)for the first time since the All-Star break.


"I think it's something in the back of everybody's mind," Custsaid of the A's second-half surge. "A couple of weeks ago Idon't think we were thinking about that, but with our startingpitching anything can happen. We just have to keep thisrolling."


However, Oakland still has a long way to go, sitting nine gamesback in the wild card and 11 1/2 back in the AL West.