AL: CLEVELAND (94-64) at SEATTLE (84-74) <h3>Indians eyeing best record in baseball</h3> Cleveland (94-64) at Seattle (84-74),10:05 pm EDT SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Even though they have clinched the AmericanLeague Central Division title, the Cleveland Indians still haveplenty to play for when they conclude their four-game serieswith the Seattle Mariners on Thursday. The team that finishes with the best record in the AL will notonly have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs but willalso have the option of choosing its off days in the DivisionalSeries. The Indians could opt for days off following Game 1 and Game 2,which would allow ace C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona to pitchthe first two games of the series and still be able to pitchGame 4 and Game 5, if necessary, on normal rest. Cleveland is currently deadlocked with the Boston Red Sox(94-64) for the best record in baseball as well as the toprecord in the AL. Paul Byrd (15-7, 4.55 ERA) will try to help the Indians to themajor's best record when he toes the rubber on Thursday. Byrd was roughed up in his last start, surrendering six runs andnine hits, lasting just 4 1/3 innings. The 36-year-oldrighthander suffered just his third loss in his last nine startsas the Oakland Athletics handed Cleveland a 9-3 setback onSaturday. After missing three months with right shoulder inflammation, ChaSeung Baek (3-3, 5.48) will make his return to the Marinersrotation for the series finale. Baek has allowed two hits while striking out one and walking oneover two relief appearances since being activated from the DLon September 18. The 27-year-old righthander hasn't given up arun over three innings.
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">CLEVELAND AT SEATTLE -- LINEUPS CLEVELAND SEATTLE AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Grady Sizemore CF .279 24 78 Ichiro Suzuki CF .350 6 68 Chris Gomez 1B .308 1 20 Adrian Beltre 3B .277 26 99 Asdrubal Cabrera SS .288 3 21 Raul Ibanez LF .288 20 103 Travis Hafner DH .260 23 96 Jose Guillen RF .288 22 97 Franklin Gutierrez RF .265 13 36 Ben Broussard 1B .272 7 29 Casey Blake 3B .269 18 77 Kenji Johjima C .292 14 59 Kenny Lofton LF .296 7 36 Jeff Clement DH .333 1 1 Kelly Shoppach C .253 7 29 Jose Lopez 2B .254 9 59 Luis Rivas 2B .500 1 4 Willie Bloomquist SS .280 2 13 Paul Byrd RHP (15-7, 4.55) Cha Seung Baek RHP (3-3, 5.48)</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE WARMUPS: CLE - PAUL BYRD (15-7, 4.55) SEA - CHA SEUNG BAEK (3-3, 5.48) UMPIRES: HP - ALFONSO MARQUEZ 1B - CHUCK MERIWETHER 2B - RICK REED 3B - TIM TIMMONS WEATHER: 64 Degrees, cloudy WIND: 4 mph, out to center</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE STARTING BATS: CLE - PAUL BYRD AND KELLY SHOPPACH SEA - CHA SEUNG BAEK AND KENJI JOHJIMA DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: G SIZEMORE (.279, 24 HR, 78 RBI) C GOMEZ (.308, 1 HR, 20 RBI) A CABRERA (.288, 3 HR, 21 RBI)</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 SEATTLE 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD SEA - CHA SEUNG BAEK DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: I SUZUKI (.350, 6 HR, 68 RBI) A BELTRE (.277, 26 HR, 99 RBI) R IBANEZ (.288, 20 HR, 103 RBI)</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS SEATTLE (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 C Gomez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307 A Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 L Rivas 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .350 A Beltre 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 R Ibanez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 J Guillen rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 B Broussard 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 K Johjima c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 J Clement dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 J Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 W Bloomquist ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0 SEATTLE - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.55 SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era C Baek 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.40 Pitches-strikes: C Baek 11-8. Ground balls-fly balls: C Baek 1-2. Batters faced: C Baek 3. UMPIRES: HP--Alfonso Marquez. 1B--Chuck Meriwether. 2B--Rick Reed. 3B--Tim Timmons. Weather: 64 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 4 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE CONFIRMED STARTERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD SEA - CHA SEUNG BAEK</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY JOSE GUILLEN (23) TO CENTER WITH 2 OUT IN THE 1ST OFF PAUL BYRD SCORED RAUL IBANEZ. CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 0, SEATTLE 2 DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: B BROUSSARD (.272, 7 HR, 29 RBI)</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - CLEVELAND 0 0 0 0 SEATTLE 2 2 2 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD SEA - CHA SEUNG BAEK DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T HAFNER (.260, 23 HR, 96 RBI) F GUTIERREZ (.265, 13 HR, 36 RBI) C BLAKE (.269, 18 HR, 77 RBI)</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">CLEVELAND (0) VS SEATTLE (2) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 C Gomez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307 A Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 T Hafner dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 F Gutierrez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265 C Blake 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 K Lofton lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 K Shoppach c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253 L Rivas 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .350 A Beltre 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276 R Ibanez lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .290 J Guillen rf 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .289 B Broussard 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 K Johjima c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 J Clement dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 J Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 W Bloomquist ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280 Totals 5 2 2 2 0 1 0 BATTING: HR - J Guillen (23, 1st inning off P Byrd 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Guillen 2 (99). 2-out RBI - J Guillen 2. Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND - 0 -- 0 SEATTLE - 2 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 1 2 2 2 0 1 1 4.62 SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era C Baek 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.40 Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 26-16; C Baek 11-8. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 1-1; C Baek 1-2. Batters faced: P Byrd 5; C Baek 3. UMPIRES: HP--Alfonso Marquez. 1B--Chuck Meriwether. 2B--Rick Reed. 3B--Tim Timmons. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE TRIPLE BY KENNY LOFTON SCORED CASEY BLAKE. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, K LOFTON ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: CLEVELAND 1 SEATTLE 2 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: K SHOPPACH (.253, 7 HR, 29 RBI)</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - CLEVELAND 0 1 1 3 0 SEATTLE 2 2 2 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD SEA - CHA SEUNG BAEK DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: K JOHJIMA (.292, 14 HR, 59 RBI) J CLEMENT (.333, 1 HR, 1 RBI) J LOPEZ (.254, 9 HR, 59 RBI)</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">CLEVELAND (1) VS SEATTLE (2) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 C Gomez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307 A Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260 F Gutierrez rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .267 C Blake 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .270 K Lofton lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .297 K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .252 L Rivas 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 Totals 8 1 3 1 0 1 1 BATTING: 3B - K Lofton (5, C Baek). RBI - K Lofton (37). 2-out RBI - K Lofton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Shoppach 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: CS - F Gutierrez (3, 2nd base by C Baek/K Johjima). SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .350 A Beltre 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276 R Ibanez lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .290 J Guillen rf 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .289 B Broussard 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 K Johjima c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 J Clement dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 J Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 W Bloomquist ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280 Totals 5 2 2 2 0 1 0 BATTING: HR - J Guillen (23, 1st inning off P Byrd 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Guillen 2 (99). 2-out RBI - J Guillen 2. Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND - 01 -- 1 SEATTLE - 2 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 1 2 2 2 0 1 1 4.62 SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era C Baek 2 3 1 1 0 1 0 5.45 Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 26-16; C Baek 28-17. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 1-1; C Baek 2-2. Batters faced: P Byrd 5; C Baek 8. UMPIRES: HP--Alfonso Marquez. 1B--Chuck Meriwether. 2B--Rick Reed. 3B--Tim Timmons. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - CLEVELAND 0 1 1 3 0 SEATTLE 2 0 2 2 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD SEA - CHA SEUNG BAEK DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: L RIVAS (.500, 1 HR, 4 RBI) G SIZEMORE (.278, 0-FOR-1) C GOMEZ (.307, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">CLEVELAND (1) VS SEATTLE (2) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 C Gomez 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307 A Cabrera ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260 F Gutierrez rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .267 C Blake 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .270 K Lofton lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .297 K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .252 L Rivas 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 Totals 8 1 3 1 0 1 1 BATTING: 3B - K Lofton (5, C Baek). RBI - K Lofton (37). 2-out RBI - K Lofton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Shoppach 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: CS - F Gutierrez (3, 2nd base by C Baek/K Johjima). SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .350 A Beltre 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276 R Ibanez lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .290 J Guillen rf 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .289 B Broussard 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291 J Clement dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 J Lopez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .253 W Bloomquist ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280 Totals 8 2 2 2 0 2 0 BATTING: HR - J Guillen (23, 1st inning off P Byrd 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Guillen 2 (99). 2-out RBI - J Guillen 2. Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND - 01 -- 1 SEATTLE - 20 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 2 2 2 2 0 2 1 4.60 SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era C Baek 2 3 1 1 0 1 0 5.45 Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 35-21; C Baek 28-17. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 1-3; C Baek 2-2. Batters faced: P Byrd 8; C Baek 8. UMPIRES: HP--Alfonso Marquez. 1B--Chuck Meriwether. 2B--Rick Reed. 3B--Tim Timmons. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - CLEVELAND 0 1 0 1 4 0 SEATTLE 2 0 2 2 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD SEA - CHA SEUNG BAEK DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: W BLOOMQUIST (.280, 2 HR, 13 RBI) I SUZUKI (.350, 0-FOR-1) A BELTRE (.276, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">CLEVELAND (1) VS SEATTLE (2) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .279 C Gomez 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .306 A Cabrera ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .284 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260 F Gutierrez rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .267 C Blake 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .270 K Lofton lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .297 K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .252 L Rivas 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .429 Totals 12 1 4 1 0 1 3 BATTING: 2B - G Sizemore (33, C Baek). 3B - K Lofton (5, C Baek). RBI - K Lofton (37). 2-out RBI - K Lofton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Shoppach 1, A Cabrera 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: CS - F Gutierrez (3, 2nd base by C Baek/K Johjima). SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .350 A Beltre 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276 R Ibanez lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .290 J Guillen rf 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .289 B Broussard 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291 J Clement dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 J Lopez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .253 W Bloomquist ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280 Totals 8 2 2 2 0 2 0 BATTING: HR - J Guillen (23, 1st inning off P Byrd 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Guillen 2 (99). 2-out RBI - J Guillen 2. Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND - 010 -- 1 SEATTLE - 20 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 2 2 2 2 0 2 1 4.60 SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era C Baek 3 4 1 1 0 1 0 5.37 Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 35-21; C Baek 38-26. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 1-3; C Baek 3-4. Batters faced: P Byrd 8; C Baek 12. UMPIRES: HP--Alfonso Marquez. 1B--Chuck Meriwether. 2B--Rick Reed. 3B--Tim Timmons. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - CLEVELAND 0 1 0 1 4 0 SEATTLE 2 0 0 2 4 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD SEA - CHA SEUNG BAEK DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: T HAFNER (.260, 0-FOR-1) F GUTIERREZ (.267, 1-FOR-1) C BLAKE (.270, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">CLEVELAND (1) VS SEATTLE (2) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg G Sizemore cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .279 C Gomez 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .306 A Cabrera ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .284 T Hafner dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260 F Gutierrez rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .267 C Blake 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .270 K Lofton lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .297 K Shoppach c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .252 L Rivas 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .429 Totals 12 1 4 1 0 1 3 BATTING: 2B - G Sizemore (33, C Baek). 3B - K Lofton (5, C Baek). RBI - K Lofton (37). 2-out RBI - K Lofton. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - K Shoppach 1, A Cabrera 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: CS - F Gutierrez (3, 2nd base by C Baek/K Johjima). SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .349 A Beltre 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .276 R Ibanez lf 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .291 J Guillen rf 2 1 1 2 0 0 2 .288 B Broussard 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291 J Clement dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286 J Lopez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .253 W Bloomquist ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .284 Totals 13 2 4 2 0 2 4 BATTING: HR - J Guillen (23, 1st inning off P Byrd 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Guillen 2 (99). 2-out RBI - J Guillen 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Guillen 1. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND - 010 -- 1 SEATTLE - 200 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era P Byrd 3 4 2 2 0 2 1 4.57 SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era C Baek 3 4 1 1 0 1 0 5.37 Pitches-strikes: P Byrd 50-33; C Baek 38-26. Ground balls-fly balls: P Byrd 1-6; C Baek 3-4. Batters faced: P Byrd 13; C Baek 12. UMPIRES: HP--Alfonso Marquez. 1B--Chuck Meriwether. 2B--Rick Reed. 3B--Tim Timmons. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: CLEVELAND at SEATTLE <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - CLEVELAND 0 1 0 0 1 6 0 SEATTLE 2 0 0 2 4 0 (BOT 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: CLE - PAUL BYRD SEA - CHA SEUNG BAEK DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: B BROUSSARD (.271, 0-FOR-1) K JOHJIMA (.291, 0-FOR-1) J CLEMENT (.286, 0-FOR-1)</div>
