AL: OAKLAND (65-65) at TAMPA BAY (49-79) <h3>Athletics, Devil Rays look for consistency on Saturday</h3> <div class="pre">Oakland (65-65) at Tampa Bay (49-79) 7:10 pm EDT</div> ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) - After trading lopsided wins,the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Devil Rays continue afour-game series Saturday. Oakland rolled to a 12-2 win in the series opener. But TampaBay rebounded to win by the same margin Friday. James Shields led the way for the Devil Rays on Friday, comingwithin two outs of his first career shutout. Scott Kazmir (9-8, 3.65 ERA) looks to match Shields for the teamlead in wins when he starts for Tampa Bay. The lefthander lostto Boston in his last start, allowing six runs and seven hitsin 5 2/3 innings. Kazmir is 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA lifetime against Oakland. Joe Blanton (11-8, 3.84 ERA) counters for Oakland. The righthanderhas pitched well in August, going 3-0 with a 3.96 ERA. Oakland has won five of its last six games.
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 40 Akinori Iwamura 3B .285 4 20 Marco Scutaro SS .260 7 35 Carl Crawford LF .313 10 66 Nick Swisher CF .261 16 62 Carlos Pena 1B .265 28 82 Jack Cust RF .274 22 68 B.J. Upton CF .305 19 60 Mike Piazza DH .278 5 33 Delmon Young RF .287 9 65 Mark Ellis 2B .261 16 56 Brendan Harris 2B .287 8 47 Dan Johnson 1B .234 13 48 Jonny Gomes DH .257 13 35 J.J. Furmaniak 3B .111 0 0 Josh Wilson SS .255 0 16 Kurt Suzuki C .246 4 19 Josh Paul C .198 1 6 Joe Blanton RHP (11-8, 3.84) Scott Kazmir LHP (9-8, 3.65)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY WARMUPS: OAK - JOE BLANTON (11-8, 3.84) TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR (9-8, 3.65) UMPIRES: HP - BRIAN RUNGE 1B - BRUCE FROEMMING 2B - MARK WEGNER 3B - MIKE WINTERS WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY STARTING BATS: OAK - JOE BLANTON AND KURT SUZUKI TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR AND JOSH PAUL DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.293, 10 HR, 40 RBI) M SCUTARO (.260, 7 HR, 35 RBI) N SWISHER (.261, 16 HR, 62 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.285, 4 HR, 20 RBI) C CRAWFORD (.313, 10 HR, 66 RBI) C PENA (.265, 28 HR, 82 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) 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 1 0 .292 M Scutaro ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .259 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 J Cust rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 M Piazza dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234 J Furmaniak 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285 C Crawford lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .313 C Pena 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305 D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 J Gomes dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 J Paul c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 0 -- 0 TAMPA BAY - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.84 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era S Kazmir 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.63 Pitches-strikes: S Kazmir 12-9. Ground balls-fly balls: S Kazmir 0-0. Batters faced: S Kazmir 3. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Bruce Froemming. 2B--Mark Wegner. 3B--Mike Winters. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY CONFIRMED STARTERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.274, 22 HR, 68 RBI) M PIAZZA (.278, 5 HR, 33 RBI) M ELLIS (.261, 16 HR, 56 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) 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 1 0 .292 M Scutaro ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .259 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 J Cust rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 M Piazza dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234 J Furmaniak 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .284 C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264 B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305 D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 J Gomes dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 J Paul c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 0 -- 0 TAMPA BAY - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.82 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era S Kazmir 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.63 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 10-7; S Kazmir 12-9. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 1-1; S Kazmir 0-0. Batters faced: J Blanton 3; S Kazmir 3. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Bruce Froemming. 2B--Mark Wegner. 3B--Mike Winters. 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 0 0 0 1 0 TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B UPTON (.305, 19 HR, 60 RBI) D YOUNG (.287, 9 HR, 65 RBI) B HARRIS (.287, 8 HR, 47 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS TAMPA BAY (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292 M Scutaro ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .259 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276 M Ellis 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .263 D Johnson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .234 J Furmaniak 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 6 1 BATTING: 2B - M Ellis (26, S Kazmir). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Johnson 1. Team LOB - 1. TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .284 C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264 B Upton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305 D Young rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 B Harris 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 J Gomes dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 J Paul c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 00 -- 0 TAMPA BAY - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.82 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era S Kazmir 2 1 0 0 0 6 0 3.61 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 10-7; S Kazmir 27-20. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 1-1; S Kazmir 0-0. Batters faced: J Blanton 3; S Kazmir 7. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Bruce Froemming. 2B--Mark Wegner. 3B--Mike Winters. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL OAKLAND AT TAMPA BAY NOTE: TAMPA BAY PITCHER SCOTT KAZMIR HAS SIX STRIKEOUTS THROUGH TWO INNINGS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY JONNY GOMES (14) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 2 OUT IN THE 2ND OFF JOE BLANTON SCORED BRENDAN HARRIS. CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 0, TAMPA BAY 2 DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: J WILSON (.255, 0 HR, 16 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 0 1 0 TAMPA BAY 0 2 2 3 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J FURMANIAK (.111, 0 HR, 0 RBI) K SUZUKI (.246, 4 HR, 19 RBI) S STEWART (.292, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS TAMPA BAY (2) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .292 M Scutaro ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .259 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276 M Ellis 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .263 D Johnson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .234 J Furmaniak 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .111 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 6 1 BATTING: 2B - M Ellis (26, S Kazmir). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Johnson 1. Team LOB - 1. TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .284 C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264 B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 B Harris 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .289 J Gomes dh 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .260 J Wilson ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259 J Paul c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .195 Totals 9 2 3 2 0 2 1 BATTING: HR - J Gomes (14, 2nd inning off J Blanton 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Gomes 2 (37). 2-out RBI - J Gomes 2. Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 00 -- 0 TAMPA BAY - 02 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 2 3 2 2 0 2 1 3.89 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era S Kazmir 2 1 0 0 0 6 0 3.61 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 35-26; S Kazmir 27-20. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 1-3; S Kazmir 0-0. Batters faced: J Blanton 9; S Kazmir 7. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Bruce Froemming. 2B--Mark Wegner. 3B--Mike Winters. 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 0 0 0 0 1 0 TAMPA BAY 0 2 2 3 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.284, 0-FOR-1) C CRAWFORD (.312, 0-FOR-1) C PENA (.264, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS TAMPA BAY (2) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .292 M Scutaro ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .259 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276 M Ellis 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .263 D Johnson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .234 J Furmaniak 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .100 K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 Totals 10 0 1 0 0 7 1 BATTING: 2B - M Ellis (26, S Kazmir). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Johnson 1. Team LOB - 1. TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .284 C Crawford lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 C Pena 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264 B Upton cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 D Young rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 B Harris 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .289 J Gomes dh 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .260 J Wilson ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259 J Paul c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .195 Totals 9 2 3 2 0 2 1 BATTING: HR - J Gomes (14, 2nd inning off J Blanton 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Gomes 2 (37). 2-out RBI - J Gomes 2. Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 000 -- 0 TAMPA BAY - 02 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 2 3 2 2 0 2 1 3.89 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era S Kazmir 3 1 0 0 0 7 0 3.59 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 35-26; S Kazmir 36-27. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 1-3; S Kazmir 0-2. Batters faced: J Blanton 9; S Kazmir 10. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Bruce Froemming. 2B--Mark Wegner. 3B--Mike Winters. 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 0 0 0 0 1 0 TAMPA BAY 0 2 1 3 5 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M SCUTARO (.259, 0-FOR-1) N SWISHER (.261, 0-FOR-1) J CUST (.273, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS TAMPA BAY (3) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .292 M Scutaro ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .259 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .276 M Ellis 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .263 D Johnson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .234 J Furmaniak 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .100 K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 Totals 10 0 1 0 0 7 1 BATTING: 2B - M Ellis (26, S Kazmir). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Johnson 1. Team LOB - 1. TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Iwamura 3b 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .286 C Crawford lf 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 .312 C Pena 1b 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .266 B Upton cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .303 D Young rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .286 B Harris 2b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .289 J Gomes dh 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .260 J Wilson ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259 J Paul c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .195 Totals 14 3 5 3 0 4 4 BATTING: 2B - C Pena (26, J Blanton). HR - J Gomes (14, 2nd inning off J Blanton 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Gomes 2 (37), C Pena (83). 2-out RBI - J Gomes 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Young 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 000 -- 0 TAMPA BAY - 021 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 3 5 3 3 0 4 1 3.92 TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era S Kazmir 3 1 0 0 0 7 0 3.59 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 54-37; S Kazmir 36-27. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 2-3; S Kazmir 0-2. Batters faced: J Blanton 14; S Kazmir 10. UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Bruce Froemming. 2B--Mark Wegner. 3B--Mike Winters. 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 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 TAMPA BAY 0 2 1 3 5 0 (BOT 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON TAM - SCOTT KAZMIR DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B HARRIS (.289, 1-FOR-1) J GOMES (.260, 1-FOR-1, HR, 2 RBI) J WILSON (.259, 1-FOR-1)</div>
