AL: OAKLAND (64-64) at TAMPA BAY (48-78) <h3>A's look to climb above .500 vs. Devil Rays</h3> Oakland (64-64) at Tampa Bay (48-78), 7:10 pm EDT ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - The Oakland Athletics lookfor a fifth straight win when they face the Tampa Bay Devil Rayson Thursday. The A's climbed to .500 for the first time since they were 44-44at the All-Star break with a three-game sweep of the TorontoBlue Jays this week, getting a strong effort from starterEsteban Loaiza in Wednesday's 4-1 victory. It was Loaiza's first start of the season after beginning thecampaign on the disabled list due to neck and knee injuries. The35-year-old hurler was the 51st player used by Oakland thisseason, during which they have matched a club record by makinguse of the DL 22 times. Oakland will send Chad Gaudin (9-9, 4.25 ERA) to the mound onThursday. The converted reliever originally got his shot in therotation this season because of Loaiza's injury, and provedhimself to be a valuable member of the staff in the early going,posting an 8-3 record with a 2.88 ERA through his first 18starts. Gaudin has not been nearly as sharp since the All-Star break,going 1-6 with a 7.54 ERA in his last eight outings. The Devil Rays will counter with their own converted reliever,righthander Jason Hammel (1-3, 6.70). The 24-year-old was movedinto the rotation on July 21, and has posted an 0-3 record witha 7.11 ERA in six starts. Tampa Bay, which owns the major league's worst record, avoided athree-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox on Wednesdaywith a 2-1 triumph.
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">OAKLAND AT TAMPA BAY -- LINEUPS OAKLAND TAMPA BAY AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Shannon Stewart LF .293 10 38 Akinori Iwamura 3B .282 4 19 Jeff Davanon CF .286 0 3 Carl Crawford LF .310 10 64 Nick Swisher 1B .260 16 61 B.J. Upton CF .307 18 57 Jack Cust RF .273 21 65 Carlos Pena 1B .265 28 81 Mike Piazza DH .266 4 28 Delmon Young RF .286 9 64 Mark Ellis 2B .259 16 56 Brendan Harris 2B .288 8 46 Jack Hannahan 3B .241 1 5 Greg Norton DH .211 2 12 Kurt Suzuki C .244 4 18 Dioner Navarro C .202 5 26 J.J. Furmaniak SS .000 0 0 Josh Wilson SS .260 0 16 Chad Gaudin RHP (9-9, 4.25) Jason Hammel RHP (1-3, 6.70)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY WARMUPS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN (9-9, 4.25) TAM - JASON HAMMEL (1-3, 6.70) UMPIRES: HP - JOHN HIRSCHBECK 1B - WALLY BELL 2B - LAZ DIAZ 3B - BILL WELKE WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY STARTING BATS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN AND KURT SUZUKI TAM - JASON HAMMEL AND DIONER NAVARRO DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.293, 10 HR, 38 RBI) J DAVANON (.286, 0 HR, 3 RBI) N SWISHER (.260, 16 HR, 61 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY MIKE PIAZZA SCORED JEFF DAVANON. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M PIAZZA ON SECOND, J CUST ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1 TAMPA BAY 0 TOP, 1ST DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M ELLIS (.259, 16 HR, 56 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 1 1 0 TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN TAM - JASON HAMMEL DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.282, 4 HR, 19 RBI) C CRAWFORD (.310, 10 HR, 64 RBI) B UPTON (.307, 18 HR, 57 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">OAKLAND (1) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 J DaVanon cf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .286 N Swisher 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .259 J Cust rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .273 M Piazza dh 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .269 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .259 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 J Furmaniak ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 4 1 1 1 2 1 3 BATTING: 2B - M Piazza (11, J Hammel). RBI - M Piazza (29). 2-out RBI - M Piazza. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 2. Team LOB - 2. TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 C Crawford lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310 B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307 C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202 J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 1 -- 1 TAMPA BAY - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Gaudin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.25 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era J Hammel 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 6.75 Pitches-strikes: J Hammel 28-16. Ground balls-fly balls: J Hammel 1-1. Batters faced: J Hammel 6. UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY CONFIRMED STARTERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN TAM - JASON HAMMEL</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 1 1 0 TAMPA BAY 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN TAM - JASON HAMMEL DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J HANNAHAN (.241, 1 HR, 5 RBI) K SUZUKI (.244, 4 HR, 18 RBI) J FURMANIAK (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">OAKLAND (1) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 J DaVanon cf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .286 N Swisher 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .259 J Cust rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .273 M Piazza dh 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .269 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .259 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 J Furmaniak ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 4 1 1 1 2 1 3 BATTING: 2B - M Piazza (11, J Hammel). RBI - M Piazza (29). 2-out RBI - M Piazza. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 2. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Ellis-J Furmaniak-N Swisher). TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284 C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .309 B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .306 C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202 J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 BATTING: GIDP - C Crawford. Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 1 -- 1 TAMPA BAY - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Gaudin 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.22 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era J Hammel 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 6.75 Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 12-9; J Hammel 28-16. Ground balls-fly balls: C Gaudin 2-0; J Hammel 1-1. Batters faced: C Gaudin 3; J Hammel 6. UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY SHANNON STEWART SCORED JACK HANNAHAN AND KURT SUZUKI. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, S STEWART ON SECOND, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 3 TAMPA BAY 0 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J DAVANON (.286, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY NICK SWISHER SCORED SHANNON STEWART. SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, N SWISHER ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 4 TAMPA BAY 0 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.273, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY JACK CUST (22) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE 2ND OFF JASON HAMMEL SCORED NICK SWISHER. CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 6, TAMPA BAY 0 DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M PIAZZA (.269, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 5 6 4 0 TAMPA BAY 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN TAM - JASON HAMMEL DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C PENA (.265, 28 HR, 81 RBI) D YOUNG (.286, 9 HR, 64 RBI) B HARRIS (.288, 8 HR, 46 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">OAKLAND (6) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 .293 J DaVanon cf 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 .286 N Swisher 1b 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 .261 J Cust rf 1 1 1 2 1 0 0 .275 M Piazza dh 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .268 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .259 J Hannahan 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .241 K Suzuki c 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .244 J Furmaniak ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 9 6 4 6 5 1 3 BATTING: 2B - M Piazza (11, J Hammel); S Stewart (16, J Hammel); N Swisher (26, J Hammel). HR - J Cust (22, 2nd inning off J Hammel 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Piazza (29), S Stewart 2 (40), N Swisher (62), J Cust 2 (67). 2-out RBI - M Piazza, J Cust 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 2. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Ellis-J Furmaniak-N Swisher). TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284 C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .309 B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .306 C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202 J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 BATTING: GIDP - C Crawford. Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: Outfield assists - D Young (J DaVanon at Home). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 15 -- 6 TAMPA BAY - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Gaudin 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.22 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era J Hammel 2 4 6 6 5 1 1 7.60 Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 12-9; J Hammel 59-31. Ground balls-fly balls: C Gaudin 2-0; J Hammel 1-3. Batters faced: C Gaudin 3; J Hammel 14. UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 5 6 4 0 TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN TAM - JASON HAMMEL DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M ELLIS (.259, 0-FOR-1) J HANNAHAN (.241, 0-FOR-0, BB) K SUZUKI (.244, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">OAKLAND (6) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 .293 J DaVanon cf 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 .286 N Swisher 1b 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 .261 J Cust rf 1 1 1 2 1 0 0 .275 M Piazza dh 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .268 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .259 J Hannahan 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .241 K Suzuki c 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .244 J Furmaniak ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 9 6 4 6 5 1 3 BATTING: 2B - M Piazza (11, J Hammel); S Stewart (16, J Hammel); N Swisher (26, J Hammel). HR - J Cust (22, 2nd inning off J Hammel 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Piazza (29), S Stewart 2 (40), N Swisher (62), J Cust 2 (67). 2-out RBI - M Piazza, J Cust 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 2. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Ellis-J Furmaniak-N Swisher). TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284 C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .309 B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .306 C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .264 D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .285 B Harris 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .287 G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202 J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 Totals 6 0 1 0 0 4 1 BATTING: GIDP - C Crawford. Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: Outfield assists - D Young (J DaVanon at Home). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 15 -- 6 TAMPA BAY - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Gaudin 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 4.19 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era J Hammel 2 4 6 6 5 1 1 7.60 Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 26-20; J Hammel 59-31. Ground balls-fly balls: C Gaudin 2-0; J Hammel 1-3. Batters faced: C Gaudin 6; J Hammel 14. UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 1 5 0 6 5 0 TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN TAM - JASON HAMMEL DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: G NORTON (.211, 2 HR, 12 RBI) D NAVARRO (.202, 5 HR, 26 RBI) J WILSON (.260, 0 HR, 16 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">OAKLAND (6) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 .293 J DaVanon cf 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 .286 N Swisher 1b 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 .261 J Cust rf 1 1 1 2 1 0 0 .275 M Piazza dh 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .268 M Ellis 2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 2 .260 J Hannahan 3b 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 .233 K Suzuki c 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 .242 J Furmaniak ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 Totals 13 6 5 6 5 2 6 BATTING: 2B - M Piazza (11, J Hammel); S Stewart (16, J Hammel); N Swisher (26, J Hammel). HR - J Cust (22, 2nd inning off J Hammel 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Piazza (29), S Stewart 2 (40), N Swisher (62), J Cust 2 (67). 2-out RBI - M Piazza, J Cust 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 2. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Ellis-J Furmaniak-N Swisher). TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284 C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .309 B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .306 C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .264 D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .285 B Harris 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .287 G Norton dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 D Navarro c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202 J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 Totals 6 0 1 0 0 4 1 BATTING: GIDP - C Crawford. Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: Outfield assists - D Young (J DaVanon at Home). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 150 -- 6 TAMPA BAY - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Gaudin 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 4.19 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era J Hammel 3 5 6 6 5 2 1 7.43 Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 27-21; J Hammel 78-44. Ground balls-fly balls: C Gaudin 2-0; J Hammel 1-5. Batters faced: C Gaudin 6; J Hammel 18. UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Wally Bell. 2B--Laz Diaz. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY AKINORI IWAMURA SCORED GREG NORTON. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A IWAMURA ON FIRST, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 6 TAMPA BAY 1 BOTTOM, 3RD DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: C CRAWFORD (.309, 0-FOR-1)</div>
