AL: BALTIMORE (42-52) at OAKLAND (45-50) <h3>Orioles send hot-handed Bedard against Athletics</h3> Baltimore (42-52) at Oakland (45-50) 10:05 pm EDT OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Baltimore Orioles starter ErikBedard looks to extend his scoreless innings streak when theteam visits the Oakland Athletics on Friday. Bedard (8-4, 3.22 ERA) has not allowed a run in 16 consecutiveinnings spanning his last two starts. He earned his firstshutout on July 7 in a 3-0 win against the Texas Rangers. The lefthander followed up that effort by holding the ChicagoWhite Sox scoreless through seven innings during a 2-0 winFriday. Bedard, who is 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last five starts andleads the majors in strikeouts with 156, did miss a scheduledstart against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday due to a stiffneck. The Athletics counter with Joe Blanton (8-6, 3.36), who looks toget back on track after losing his last two starts. The250-pound righthander has given up nine runs in 13 2/3 inningsduring those games. Oakland ended a nine-game winning streak with a 6-0 victory overTexas on Wednesday. It marked just the second time in the last13 games that Oakland has scored more than three runs.
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">BALTIMORE AT OAKLAND -- LINEUPS BALTIMORE OAKLAND AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Brian Roberts 2B .317 6 29 Shannon Stewart LF .305 7 28 Corey Patterson CF .258 4 25 Mark Ellis 2B .265 8 41 Nick Markakis RF .293 10 58 Nick Swisher CF .256 11 46 Kevin Millar 1B .278 9 36 Mike Piazza DH .282 1 8 Aubrey Huff 3B .257 6 42 Bobby Kielty RF .194 0 3 Jay Payton LF .271 4 34 Dan Johnson 1B .252 10 37 Jay Gibbons DH .216 6 26 Marco Scutaro 3B .244 4 14 Ramon Hernandez C .241 5 35 Bobby Crosby SS .225 8 31 Luis Hernandez SS .333 0 1 Kurt Suzuki C .200 2 5 Erik Bedard LHP (8-4, 3.22) Joe Blanton RHP (8-6, 3.36)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND WARMUPS: BAL - ERIK BEDARD (8-4, 3.22) OAK - JOE BLANTON (8-6, 3.36) UMPIRES: HP - BRUCE FROEMMING 1B - MIKE WINTERS 2B - BRIAN RUNGE 3B - MARK WEGNER WEATHER: 68 Degrees, partly cloudy WIND: 21 mph, out to right</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND STARTING BATS: BAL - ERIK BEDARD AND RAMON HERNANDEZ OAK - JOE BLANTON AND KURT SUZUKI DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B ROBERTS (.317, 6 HR, 29 RBI) C PATTERSON (.258, 4 HR, 25 RBI) N MARKAKIS (.293, 10 HR, 58 RBI)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY NICK MARKAKIS SCORED COREY PATTERSON. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, N MARKAKIS ON FIRST, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 1 OAKLAND 0 TOP, 1ST DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: K MILLAR (.278, 9 HR, 36 RBI)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BALTIMORE 1 1 2 0 OAKLAND 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - ERIK BEDARD OAK - JOE BLANTON DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.305, 7 HR, 28 RBI) M ELLIS (.265, 8 HR, 41 RBI) N SWISHER (.256, 11 HR, 46 RBI)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">BALTIMORE (1) VS OAKLAND (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316 C Patterson cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .260 N Markakis rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .294 K Millar 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .276 A Huff 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .257 J Payton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 J Gibbons dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216 R Hernandez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 L Hernandez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 Totals 5 1 2 1 0 0 2 BATTING: RBI - N Markakis (59). Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - C Patterson (21, 2nd base off J Blanton/K Suzuki). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 M Piazza dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 B Kielty rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .194 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 M Scutaro 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE - 1 -- 1 OAKLAND - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era E Bedard 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.22 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 3.40 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 18-11. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 2-1. Batters faced: J Blanton 5. UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark Wegner. Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 21 mph, out to right.</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND CONFIRMED STARTERS: BAL - ERIK BEDARD OAK - JOE BLANTON</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BALTIMORE 1 1 2 0 OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - ERIK BEDARD OAK - JOE BLANTON DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: J PAYTON (.271, 4 HR, 34 RBI) J GIBBONS (.216, 6 HR, 26 RBI) R HERNANDEZ (.241, 5 HR, 35 RBI)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">BALTIMORE (1) VS OAKLAND (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg B Roberts 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316 C Patterson cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .260 N Markakis rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .294 K Millar 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .276 A Huff 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .257 J Payton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 J Gibbons dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216 R Hernandez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 L Hernandez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 Totals 5 1 2 1 0 0 2 BATTING: RBI - N Markakis (59). Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - C Patterson (21, 2nd base off J Blanton/K Suzuki). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .264 N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .279 B Kielty rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .194 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 M Scutaro 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE - 1 -- 1 OAKLAND - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era E Bedard 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 3.19 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 3.40 Pitches-strikes: E Bedard 16-10; J Blanton 18-11. Ground balls-fly balls: E Bedard 1-0; J Blanton 2-1. Batters faced: E Bedard 4; J Blanton 5. UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark Wegner. Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 21 mph, out to right.</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE ERROR BY SHANNON STEWART ALLOWED JAY PAYTON TO SCORE. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, L HERNANDEZ ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 2 OAKLAND 0 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: B ROBERTS (.316, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BALTIMORE 1 1 2 4 0 OAKLAND 0 0 0 1 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - ERIK BEDARD OAK - JOE BLANTON DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: B KIELTY (.194, 0 HR, 3 RBI) D JOHNSON (.252, 10 HR, 37 RBI) M SCUTARO (.244, 4 HR, 14 RBI)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">BALTIMORE (2) VS OAKLAND (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg B Roberts 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315 C Patterson cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .260 N Markakis rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .294 K Millar 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .276 A Huff 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .257 J Payton lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .273 J Gibbons dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .215 R Hernandez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .239 L Hernandez ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .385 Totals 10 2 4 1 0 0 5 BATTING: RBI - N Markakis (59). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Roberts 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - C Patterson (21, 2nd base off J Blanton/K Suzuki). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .264 N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .279 B Kielty rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .194 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252 M Scutaro 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - S Stewart (4, bobble). ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE - 11 -- 2 OAKLAND - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era E Bedard 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 3.19 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 2 4 2 1 0 0 0 3.37 Pitches-strikes: E Bedard 16-10; J Blanton 32-20. Ground balls-fly balls: E Bedard 1-0; J Blanton 3-3. Batters faced: E Bedard 4; J Blanton 10. UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark Wegner. Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 21 mph, out to right.</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BALTIMORE 1 1 2 4 0 OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 1 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - ERIK BEDARD OAK - JOE BLANTON DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: C PATTERSON (.260, 1-FOR-1) N MARKAKIS (.294, 1-FOR-1, RBI) K MILLAR (.276, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">BALTIMORE (2) VS OAKLAND (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg B Roberts 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315 C Patterson cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .260 N Markakis rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .294 K Millar 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .276 A Huff 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .257 J Payton lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .273 J Gibbons dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .215 R Hernandez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .239 L Hernandez ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .385 Totals 10 2 4 1 0 0 5 BATTING: RBI - N Markakis (59). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Roberts 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - C Patterson (21, 2nd base off J Blanton/K Suzuki). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .264 N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .279 B Kielty rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .188 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .252 M Scutaro 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .243 B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .224 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 Totals 6 0 0 0 2 5 3 BATTING: Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: E - S Stewart (4, bobble). ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE - 11 -- 2 OAKLAND - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era E Bedard 2 0 0 0 2 5 0 3.17 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 2 4 2 1 0 0 0 3.37 Pitches-strikes: E Bedard 33-21; J Blanton 32-20. Ground balls-fly balls: E Bedard 1-0; J Blanton 3-3. Batters faced: E Bedard 8; J Blanton 10. UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark Wegner. Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 21 mph, out to right.</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BALTIMORE 1 1 0 2 4 0 OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 1 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - ERIK BEDARD OAK - JOE BLANTON DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: K SUZUKI (.200, 2 HR, 5 RBI) S STEWART (.304, 0-FOR-1) M ELLIS (.264, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">BALTIMORE (2) VS OAKLAND (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg B Roberts 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315 C Patterson cf 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 .260 N Markakis rf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .294 K Millar 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275 A Huff 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .257 J Payton lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .273 J Gibbons dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .215 R Hernandez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .239 L Hernandez ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .385 Totals 13 2 4 1 0 1 5 BATTING: RBI - N Markakis (59). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Roberts 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - C Patterson (21, 2nd base off J Blanton/K Suzuki). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .264 N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .279 B Kielty rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .188 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .252 M Scutaro 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .243 B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .224 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200 Totals 6 0 0 0 2 5 3 BATTING: Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: E - S Stewart (4, bobble). ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE - 110 -- 2 OAKLAND - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era E Bedard 2 0 0 0 2 5 0 3.17 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 3 4 2 1 0 1 0 3.35 Pitches-strikes: E Bedard 33-21; J Blanton 45-28. Ground balls-fly balls: E Bedard 1-0; J Blanton 4-4. Batters faced: E Bedard 8; J Blanton 13. UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark Wegner. Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 21 mph, out to right.</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - BALTIMORE 1 1 0 2 4 0 OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 0 1 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: BAL - ERIK BEDARD OAK - JOE BLANTON DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: A HUFF (.257, 0-FOR-1) J PAYTON (.273, 1-FOR-1) J GIBBONS (.215, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">BALTIMORE (2) VS OAKLAND (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS BALTIMORE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg B Roberts 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315 C Patterson cf 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 .260 N Markakis rf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .294 K Millar 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .275 A Huff 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .257 J Payton lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .273 J Gibbons dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .215 R Hernandez c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .239 L Hernandez ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .385 Totals 13 2 4 1 0 1 5 BATTING: RBI - N Markakis (59). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Roberts 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - C Patterson (21, 2nd base off J Blanton/K Suzuki). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .303 M Ellis 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .263 N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .256 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .279 B Kielty rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .188 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .252 M Scutaro 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .243 B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .224 K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .194 Totals 9 0 0 0 2 6 3 BATTING: Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: E - S Stewart (4, bobble). ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE - 110 -- 2 OAKLAND - 000 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- BALTIMORE ip h r er bb so hr era E Bedard 3 0 0 0 2 6 0 3.14 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 3 4 2 1 0 1 0 3.35 Pitches-strikes: E Bedard 45-29; J Blanton 45-28. Ground balls-fly balls: E Bedard 2-1; J Blanton 4-4. Batters faced: E Bedard 11; J Blanton 13. UMPIRES: HP--Bruce Froemming. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Brian Runge. 3B--Mark Wegner. Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 21 mph, out to right.</div>
AL: BALTIMORE at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY RAMON HERNANDEZ SCORED AUBREY HUFF. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R HERNANDEZ ON FIRST, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: BALTIMORE 3 OAKLAND 0 TOP, 4TH DUE UP FOR BALTIMORE: L HERNANDEZ (.385, 1-FOR-1)</div>
