GAME THREAD: AL: KANSAS CITY (55-67) at OAKLAND (60-64)

AL: KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MARCO SCUTARO SCORED MARK ELLIS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M SCUTARO ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 1
OAKLAND 6 BOTTOM, 7TH

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J HANNAHAN (.176, 1-FOR-2, BB, RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 4 0
OAKLAND 1 0 0 1 0 3 1 6 13 0 (TOP 8)

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - JOHN BALE
OAK - LENNY DINARDO

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: J GATHRIGHT (.358, 2-FOR-2)
J LARUE (.148, 0-FOR-1, SAC)
E GERMAN (.277, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (1) VS OAKLAND (6) - END 7TH - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German 3b 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .277
D DeJesus cf 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .272
M Grudzielanek 2b 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .304
B Butler dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .306
E Brown rf 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 .227
A Gordon 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .245
T Pena Jr ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .265
J Gathright lf 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .358
J LaRue c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .148

Totals 24 1 4 1 0 2 6

BATTING: 2B - M Grudzielanek (26, L DiNardo). S - J LaRue. RBI - E Brown (46).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D DeJesus 1, T Pena Jr 1. Team LOB -
3.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Pena Jr-A Gordon).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 .294
J DaVanon cf 3 0 2 1 0 0 0 .500
N Swisher rf 4 0 2 0 0 1 3 .256
J Cust dh 2 0 0 0 2 2 3 .273
M Ellis 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 5 .260
D Johnson 1b 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 .227
M Scutaro ss 4 2 4 2 0 0 0 .257
J Hannahan 3b 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 .167
R Bowen c 3 0 1 0 0 2 1 .333

Totals 30 6 13 6 3 6 14

BATTING: 2B - N Swisher (25, K Davies); J Hannahan (2, J Bale). 3B - S Stewart
(1, K Davies). HR - M Scutaro (7, 4th inning off K Davies 0 on, 1 Out), D
Johnson (12, 6th inning off J Bale 0 on, 0 Out). SF - S Stewart , J DaVanon.
RBI - J DaVanon (2), M Scutaro 2 (34), D Johnson (44), J Hannahan (2), S
Stewart (38). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 3, J Cust 1.
GIDP - J Hannahan. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: CS - M Scutaro (1, 2nd base by K Davies/J LaRue).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 000 000 1 -- 1
OAKLAND - 100 103 1 -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
K Davies 5 6 2 2 3 4 1 5.03
J Bale 2 7 4 4 0 2 1 5.51

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
L DiNardo 7 4 1 1 0 2 0 3.16

WP - K Davies, J Bale. Pitches-strikes: K Davies 99-60; J Bale 44-28; L
DiNardo 72-49. Ground balls-fly balls: K Davies 1-9; J Bale 2-2; L DiNardo
11-8. Batters faced: K Davies 23; J Bale 12; L DiNardo 25.

UMPIRES: HP--Doug Eddings. 1B--Mike Muchlinski. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Kerwin
Danley.

Weather: 68 degrees, sunny. Wind: 12 mph, in from right.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 5 0
OAKLAND 1 0 0 1 0 3 1 6 13 0 (BOT 8)

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - JOHN BALE
OAK - LENNY DINARDO

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: R BOWEN (.333, 1-FOR-3)
S STEWART (.294, 1-FOR-3, SF, RBI)
J DAVANON (.500, 2-FOR-3, SF, RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (1) VS OAKLAND (6) - MID 8TH - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .276
D DeJesus cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .271
M Grudzielanek 2b 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .304
B Butler dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .306
E Brown rf 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 .227
A Gordon 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .245
T Pena Jr ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .265
J Gathright lf 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 .363
J LaRue c 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .147

Totals 28 1 5 1 0 3 9

BATTING: 2B - M Grudzielanek (26, L DiNardo). S - J LaRue. RBI - E Brown (46).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D DeJesus 1, T Pena Jr 1. Team LOB -
4.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Pena Jr-A Gordon).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 .294
J DaVanon cf 3 0 2 1 0 0 0 .500
N Swisher rf 4 0 2 0 0 1 3 .256
J Cust dh 2 0 0 0 2 2 3 .273
M Ellis 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 5 .260
D Johnson 1b 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 .227
M Scutaro ss 4 2 4 2 0 0 0 .257
J Hannahan 3b 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 .167
R Bowen c 3 0 1 0 0 2 1 .333

Totals 30 6 13 6 3 6 14

BATTING: 2B - N Swisher (25, K Davies); J Hannahan (2, J Bale). 3B - S Stewart
(1, K Davies). HR - M Scutaro (7, 4th inning off K Davies 0 on, 1 Out), D
Johnson (12, 6th inning off J Bale 0 on, 0 Out). SF - S Stewart , J DaVanon.
RBI - J DaVanon (2), M Scutaro 2 (34), D Johnson (44), J Hannahan (2), S
Stewart (38). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 3, J Cust 1.
GIDP - J Hannahan. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: CS - M Scutaro (1, 2nd base by K Davies/J LaRue).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 000 000 10 -- 1
OAKLAND - 100 103 1 -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
K Davies 5 6 2 2 3 4 1 5.03
J Bale 2 7 4 4 0 2 1 5.51

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
L DiNardo 8 5 1 1 0 3 0 3.13

WP - K Davies, J Bale. Pitches-strikes: K Davies 99-60; J Bale 44-28; L
DiNardo 85-58. Ground balls-fly balls: K Davies 1-9; J Bale 2-2; L DiNardo
11-10. Batters faced: K Davies 23; J Bale 12; L DiNardo 29.

UMPIRES: HP--Doug Eddings. 1B--Mike Muchlinski. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Kerwin
Danley.

Weather: 68 degrees, sunny. Wind: 12 mph, in from right.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - PITCHING CHANGE
KAN: JOEL PERALTA (1-2, 3.96) STARTING THE 8TH
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 1, OAKLAND 6

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: R BOWEN (.333, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Peralta relieved J Bale.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: KANSAS CITY 1
OAKLAND 6 BOTTOM, 8TH

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: R Bowen (.333, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 5 0
OAKLAND 1 0 0 1 0 3 1 0 6 13 0 (TOP 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: KAN - JOEL PERALTA
OAK - LENNY DINARDO

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M GRUDZIELANEK (.304, 1-FOR-3)
B BUTLER (.306, 0-FOR-3)
E BROWN (.227, 1-FOR-3, RBI)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (1) VS OAKLAND (6) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .276
D DeJesus cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .271
M Grudzielanek 2b 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 .304
B Butler dh 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .306
E Brown rf 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 .227
A Gordon 1b 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .245
T Pena Jr ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .265
J Gathright lf 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 .363
J LaRue c 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .147

Totals 28 1 5 1 0 3 9

BATTING: 2B - M Grudzielanek (26, L DiNardo). S - J LaRue. RBI - E Brown (46).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D DeJesus 1, T Pena Jr 1. Team LOB -
4.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Pena Jr-A Gordon).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 .293
J DaVanon cf 4 0 2 1 0 1 0 .444
N Swisher rf 4 0 2 0 0 1 3 .256
J Cust dh 2 0 0 0 2 2 3 .273
M Ellis 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 5 .260
D Johnson 1b 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 .227
M Scutaro ss 4 2 4 2 0 0 0 .257
J Hannahan 3b 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 .167
R Bowen c 4 0 1 0 0 3 1 .316

Totals 33 6 13 6 3 8 14

BATTING: 2B - N Swisher (25, K Davies); J Hannahan (2, J Bale). 3B - S Stewart
(1, K Davies). HR - M Scutaro (7, 4th inning off K Davies 0 on, 1 Out), D
Johnson (12, 6th inning off J Bale 0 on, 0 Out). SF - S Stewart , J DaVanon.
RBI - J DaVanon (2), M Scutaro 2 (34), D Johnson (44), J Hannahan (2), S
Stewart (38). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 3, J Cust 1.
GIDP - J Hannahan. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: CS - M Scutaro (1, 2nd base by K Davies/J LaRue).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 000 000 10 -- 1
OAKLAND - 100 103 10 -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
K Davies 5 6 2 2 3 4 1 5.03
J Bale 2 7 4 4 0 2 1 5.51
J Peralta 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.91

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
L DiNardo 8 5 1 1 0 3 0 3.13

WP - K Davies, J Bale. Pitches-strikes: K Davies 99-60; J Bale 44-28; J
Peralta 13-10; L DiNardo 85-58. Ground balls-fly balls: K Davies 1-9; J Bale
2-2; J Peralta 0-1; L DiNardo 11-10. Batters faced: K Davies 23; J Bale 12; J
Peralta 3; L DiNardo 29.

UMPIRES: HP--Doug Eddings. 1B--Mike Muchlinski. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Kerwin
Danley.

Weather: 68 degrees, sunny. Wind: 12 mph, in from right.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 0
OAKLAND 1 0 0 1 0 3 1 0 x 6 13 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: KAN - KYLE DAVIES, JOHN BALE (6TH), JOEL PERALTA (8TH) AND JASON
LARUE

OAK - LENNY DINARDO, HUSTON STREET (9TH) AND ROB BOWEN

HOME RUNS: KAN - NONE

OAK - MARCO SCUTARO (7) OFF KYLE DAVIES IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
DAN JOHNSON (12) OFF JOHN BALE IN THE 6TH, 0 ON</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 0
OAKLAND 1 0 0 1 0 3 1 0 x 6 13 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: KAN - KYLE DAVIES, JOHN BALE (6TH), JOEL PERALTA (8TH) AND JASON
LARUE

OAK - LENNY DINARDO, HUSTON STREET (9TH) AND ROB BOWEN


WP - LENNY DINARDO (8-6)
LP - KYLE DAVIES (1-2)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: KAN - NONE

OAK - MARCO SCUTARO (7) OFF KYLE DAVIES IN THE 4TH, 0 ON
DAN JOHNSON (12) OFF JOHN BALE IN THE 6TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:33 ATT: 26,445

PROBABLES: OAK - JOE BLANTON (10-8, 3.94)
TOR - SHAUN MARCUM (10-4, 3.31)

PROBABLES: KAN - GIL MECHE (7-11, 3.90)
CHA - MARK BUEHRLE (9-8, 3.36)</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">KANSAS CITY (1) VS OAKLAND (6) - FINAL

KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E German 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .276
D DeJesus cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .271
M Grudzielanek 2b 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .306
B Butler dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .304
E Brown rf 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 .226
A Gordon 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .245
T Pena Jr ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .265
J Gathright lf 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 .363
J LaRue c 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .147

Totals 32 1 6 1 0 5 12

BATTING: 2B - M Grudzielanek (26, L DiNardo). S - J LaRue. RBI - E Brown (46).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D DeJesus 1, T Pena Jr 1. Team LOB -
5.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Pena Jr-A Gordon).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 .293
J DaVanon cf 4 0 2 1 0 1 0 .444
N Swisher rf 4 0 2 0 0 1 3 .256
J Cust dh 2 0 0 0 2 2 3 .273
M Ellis 2b 4 1 1 0 0 0 5 .260
D Johnson 1b 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 .227
M Scutaro ss 4 2 4 2 0 0 0 .257
J Hannahan 3b 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 .167
R Bowen c 4 0 1 0 0 3 1 .316

Totals 33 6 13 6 3 8 14

BATTING: 2B - N Swisher (25, K Davies); J Hannahan (2, J Bale). 3B - S Stewart
(1, K Davies). HR - M Scutaro (7, 4th inning off K Davies 0 on, 1 Out), D
Johnson (12, 6th inning off J Bale 0 on, 0 Out). SF - S Stewart , J DaVanon.
RBI - J DaVanon (2), M Scutaro 2 (34), D Johnson (44), J Hannahan (2), S
Stewart (38). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 3, J Cust 1.
GIDP - J Hannahan. Team LOB - 8.

BASERUNNING: CS - M Scutaro (1, 2nd base by K Davies/J LaRue).


----------------------------------------------------
KANSAS CITY - 000 000 100 -- 1
OAKLAND - 100 103 10x -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
K Davies (L, 1-2) 5 6 2 2 3 4 1 5.03
J Bale 2 7 4 4 0 2 1 5.51
J Peralta 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.91

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
L DiNardo (W, 8-6) 8 5 1 1 0 3 0 3.13
H Street 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.64

WP - K Davies, J Bale. Pitches-strikes: K Davies 99-60; J Bale 44-28; J
Peralta 13-10; L DiNardo 85-58; H Street 15-12. Ground balls-fly balls: K
Davies 1-9; J Bale 2-2; J Peralta 0-1; L DiNardo 11-10; H Street 0-1. Batters
faced: K Davies 23; J Bale 12; J Peralta 3; L DiNardo 29; H Street 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Doug Eddings. 1B--Mike Muchlinski. 2B--Dana Demuth. 3B--Kerwin
Danley.

T--2:33. Att--26,445.
Weather: 68 degrees, sunny. Wind: 12 mph, in from
right.</div>

 

Scutaro, Athletics salvage series finale

<h3>OAKLAND 6, KANSAS CITY 1</h3>By Ryan Leong
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - Marco Scutaro made sure that theKansas City Royals did not sweep the Oakland Athletics in theseries finale.


Scutaro led a 13-hit attack going 4-for-4 with a home run tolead the Athletics to a 6-1 victory over the Royals on Sundayafternoon.


Lenny DiNardo (8-6), who has won his last five decisions,pitched a career-high eight innings, giving up only five hitsand one run for the win.


First baseman Dan Johnson hit a solo home run to snap an 0-for-9streak in the sixth inning.


The Royals had won the first two games of the series and a winon Sunday would have extended the team's winning streak to fourgames on the road and capped the first three-game sweep of theAthletics in Oakland since 1988.


Royals pitcher Kyle Davies (1-2), making his fourth start forKansas City since being acquired from the Atlanta Braves inexchange for Octavio Dotel on July 31, pitched five innings,allowing six hits and two runs in taking the loss.

Left fielder Shannon Stewart got the game started off right forthe A's by hitting a leadoff triple in the first inning. Asacrifice fly by Jeff DaVanon scored Stewart for the early lead.

The A's doubled their lead in the sixth against reliever JohnBale. Johnson, who had not played in the last five games,hammered a first-pitch fastball into the right field bleachers.

Scutaro hit an infield single and rookie Jack Hannahan followedwith his second career RBI - a double just inside the rightfield line to plate Scutaro.


Rob Bowen singled to advance Hannahan to third and Stewart'ssacrifice fly capped off a three-run frame.


Huston Street pitched the final three outs in a non-savesituation.


The win completed a 4-2 homestand for the Athletics, who willface the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on aseven-game road trip beginning Monday night at Toronto's RogersCentre.

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
KANSAS CITY 1
OAKLAND 6 FINAL</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KANSAS CITY (1) AT OAKLAND (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OAKLAND 1ST: S Stewart tripled to deep left. J DaVanon hit sacrifice fly
to left, S Stewart scored. N Swisher singled to center. N Swisher to second
on wild pitch by K Davies. J Cust struck out swinging. M Ellis flied out to
left. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, OAKLAND 1.

OAKLAND 4TH: D Johnson flied out to left. M Scutaro homered to left.
J Hannahan struck out swinging. R Bowen struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, OAKLAND 2.

OAKLAND 6TH: J Bale relieved K Davies. D Johnson homered to right.
M Scutaro reached on infield single to shortstop. J Hannahan doubled to right,
M Scutaro scored. R Bowen singled to right, J Hannahan to third. S Stewart hit
sacrifice fly to left, J Hannahan scored. J DaVanon singled to left, R Bowen
to second. N Swisher struck out swinging. J Cust struck out swinging.
(3 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, OAKLAND 5.

KANSAS CITY 7TH: M Grudzielanek hit a ground rule double to deep center.
B Butler grounded out to third. E Brown singled to center, M Grudzielanek
scored. A Gordon grounded out to second, E Brown to second. T Pena Jr flied
out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, OAKLAND 5.

OAKLAND 7TH: M Ellis singled to center. M Ellis to second on wild pitch by
J Bale. D Johnson flied out to center, M Ellis to third. M Scutaro singled to
left, M Ellis scored. J Hannahan grounded into double play, shortstop to
first, M Scutaro out at second.(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1,
OAKLAND 6.</div>

 

AL: KANSAS CITY at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KANSAS CITY (1) AT OAKLAND (6) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kansas City Starting Lineups -- E German 3B, D DeJesus CF, M Grudzielanek 2B,
B Butler DH, E Brown RF, A Gordon 1B, T Pena Jr SS, J Gathright LF, J LaRue C,
K Davies RHP.

Oakland Starting Lineups -- S Stewart LF, J DaVanon CF, N Swisher RF, J Cust DH,
M Ellis 2B, D Johnson 1B, M Scutaro SS, J Hannahan 3B, R Bowen C, L DiNardo LHP.

Umpires -- Doug Eddings (HP), Mike Muchlinski (1B), Dana Demuth (2B),
Kerwin Danley (3B).

Gametime Weather: 68 degrees, Sunny, wind in from right at 12 mph.


KANSAS CITY 1ST: E German grounded out to shortstop. D DeJesus flied out
to left. M Grudzielanek lined out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 0, OAKLAND 0.

OAKLAND 1ST: S Stewart tripled to deep left. J DaVanon hit sacrifice fly
to left, S Stewart scored. N Swisher singled to center. N Swisher to second
on wild pitch by K Davies. J Cust struck out swinging. M Ellis flied out to
left. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, OAKLAND 1.

KANSAS CITY 2ND: B Butler grounded out to third. E Brown grounded out to
pitcher. A Gordon fouled out to catcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
KANSAS CITY 0, OAKLAND 1.

OAKLAND 2ND: D Johnson lined out to first. M Scutaro singled to right.
M Scutaro caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. J Hannahan walked.
R Bowen struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, OAKLAND 1.

KANSAS CITY 3RD: T Pena Jr grounded out to shortstop. J Gathright reached
on bunt single to pitcher. J LaRue struck out swinging. E German grounded
into fielder's choice to third, J Gathright out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, OAKLAND 1.

OAKLAND 3RD: S Stewart flied out to right. J DaVanon singled to left.
N Swisher flied out to right. J Cust walked, J DaVanon to second. M Ellis flied
out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, OAKLAND 1.

KANSAS CITY 4TH: D DeJesus bunt grounded out to second. M Grudzielanek
grounded out to third. B Butler grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, OAKLAND 1.

OAKLAND 4TH: D Johnson flied out to left. M Scutaro homered to left.
J Hannahan struck out swinging. R Bowen struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, OAKLAND 2.

KANSAS CITY 5TH: E Brown flied out to right. A Gordon struck out swinging.
T Pena Jr lined out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0,
OAKLAND 2.

OAKLAND 5TH: S Stewart grounded out to third. J DaVanon flied out to left.
N Swisher doubled to deep center. J Cust walked. M Ellis flied out to right.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, OAKLAND 2.

KANSAS CITY 6TH: J Gathright singled to right. J LaRue sacrificed to
third, J Gathright to second. E German popped out to shortstop. D DeJesus
flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, OAKLAND 2.

OAKLAND 6TH: J Bale relieved K Davies. D Johnson homered to right.
M Scutaro reached on infield single to shortstop. J Hannahan doubled to right,
M Scutaro scored. R Bowen singled to right, J Hannahan to third. S Stewart hit
sacrifice fly to left, J Hannahan scored. J DaVanon singled to left, R Bowen
to second. N Swisher struck out swinging. J Cust struck out swinging.
(3 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 0, OAKLAND 5.

KANSAS CITY 7TH: M Grudzielanek hit a ground rule double to deep center.
B Butler grounded out to third. E Brown singled to center, M Grudzielanek
scored. A Gordon grounded out to second, E Brown to second. T Pena Jr flied
out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, OAKLAND 5.

OAKLAND 7TH: M Ellis singled to center. M Ellis to second on wild pitch by
J Bale. D Johnson flied out to center, M Ellis to third. M Scutaro singled to
left, M Ellis scored. J Hannahan grounded into double play, shortstop to
first, M Scutaro out at second.(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1,
OAKLAND 6.

KANSAS CITY 8TH: J Gathright singled to left. J LaRue flied out to left.
E German lined out to left. D DeJesus struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, OAKLAND 6.

OAKLAND 8TH: J Peralta relieved J Bale. R Bowen struck out looking.
S Stewart lined out to center. J DaVanon struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, OAKLAND 6.

KANSAS CITY 9TH: H Street relieved L DiNardo. M Grudzielanek singled to
right. B Butler struck out looking. E Brown struck out swinging. A Gordon
flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) KANSAS CITY 1, OAKLAND 6.</div>

 

Scutaro, Athletics salvage series finale

<h3>OAKLAND 6, KANSAS CITY 1</h3>By Ryan Leong
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - Marco Scutaro made sure that theKansas City Royals did not sweep the Oakland Athletics in theseries finale.


Scutaro led a 13-hit attack going 4-for-4 with a home run tolead the Athletics to a 6-1 victory over the Royals on Sundayafternoon.


"Today was one of those days where I got good pitches to hit andI found some holes and sometimes you hit and sometimes youdon't and that's the way it is," Scutaro said.


Last week, Scutaro had been informed by manager Bob Geren thathis playing time would be limited despite injuries to shortstopBobby Crosby and third baseman Eric Chavez.


The team is seemingly out of contention and the A's want to seehow well Donnie Murphy can play at shortstop and recentlyacquired rookie Jack Hannahan at third base. Scutaro, who is afan favorite, is arbitration-eligible next season and couldcommand $2 million or more in salary.


"I kind of know my role," Scutaro said. "They've got theirplans and my role is kind of a utility guy. I play once inawhile and those kind of things I have no control of. I justtry to do my best every time they put me in the lineup."

Lenny DiNardo (8-6), who has won his last five decisions,pitched a career-high eight innings, giving up only five hitsand one run for the win.


"Hopefully I'll have a few more of those," DiNardo said. "Ifelt good, felt like I was keeping the ball down and let thedefense take care of it and that's the game plan for me.

"I'm not a strikeout pitcher by any means so let the ball cut,get in on the righties and away from the lefties and put theball on the ground. The defense was great behind me today, theygave 100 percent and that was outstanding to watch."

First baseman Dan Johnson hit a solo home run to snap an 0-for-9streak in the sixth inning.


"All you can do is go out there and swing and whatever happens,happens, and I finally got one where they couldn't catch it,"Johnson said.


The Royals had won the first two games of the series and a winon Sunday would have extended the team's winning streak to fourgames on the road and could have given them the first three-gamesweep of the Athletics in Oakland since 1988.


"It happens. We've been on a lot of bad-luck tears," Johnsonsaid. "Games we felt we were going to win we let slip away andit's just the way the season's gone. We're still battling.Every day we go out there and go for the win."


Royals pitcher Kyle Davies (1-2), making his fourth start forKansas City since being acquired from the Atlanta Braves inexchange for Octavio Dotel on July 31, pitched five innings,allowing six hits and two runs in taking the loss.

"Not good, we lost," Davies said. "I only gave us five inningsbut I felt really good out of the bullpen and I tried to carrythat into the game. Too much amped up I guess. I couldn't getthe ball down, couldn't locate my fastball where I wanted to."

"He made some pitches when he really had to but he kept it totwo runs," Royals manager Buddy Bell said. "I thought we had ashot and then (the bullpen) gave up the additional four whichdidn't help, especially the way we were swinging the bats. Wedidn't have a very good approach against (DiNardo) either."

Left fielder Shannon Stewart got the game started off right forthe A's by hitting a leadoff triple in the first inning. Asacrifice fly by Jeff DaVanon scored Stewart for the early lead.

The A's doubled their lead in the sixth against reliever JohnBale. Johnson, who had not played in the last five games,hammered a fastball into the right field bleachers.

"It was a first pitch fastball that I just jumped on," Johnsonsaid.


Scutaro hit an infield single and Hannahan followed with hissecond career RBI - a double just inside the right field line toplate Scutaro.


Rob Bowen singled to advance Hannahan to third and Stewart'ssacrifice fly capped off a three-run frame.


Huston Street pitched the final three outs in a non-savesituation.


The win completed a 4-2 homestand for the Athletics, who willface the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on aseven-game road trip beginning Monday night at Toronto's RogersCentre.