GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: SEATTLE (48-36) at OAKLAND (44-43)

AL: SEATTLE (48-36) at OAKLAND (44-43)

<h3>Blanton looks to keep impressive string alive</h3>

Seattle (48-36) at Oakland (44-43), 4:05 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - Joe Blanton can make a prettyconvincing case that he has been the best pitcher in baseballover the last six weeks. He looks to add to that resume onSunday when the Oakland Athletics host the Seattle Mariners inthe finale of a four-game series.

Since allowing eight runs in a loss on May 27 at Baltimore,Blanton (8-4, 3.09 ERA) has allowed a total of nine runs overhis past seven starts.

He is 6-2 with a 2.74 ERA in 10 career starts against Seattle.He lost his lone start of the season against the Mariners onApril 25 despite allowing just two runs in a complete game.

The 26-year-old righthander will be attempting to earn the A's asplit of the series with the Mariners, who have won 11 of 14games to pull within 3 1/2 games of the American LeagueWest-leading Angels (53-34), 5 1/2 clear of third-place Oakland.

Blanton will have to stop an offense that ranks third in themajor leagues with a .282 team batting average.

Seattle will counter with rookie lefthander Ryan Freierabend(1-3, 9.72). The 21-year-old got lit up by the Kansas CityRoyals last Tuesday, surrendering 10 runs and eight hits in just1 1/3 innings.

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">SEATTLE AT OAKLAND -- LINEUPS

SEATTLE OAKLAND
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Ichiro Suzuki DH .358 5 39 Shannon Stewart LF .311 7 26
Jose Lopez 2B .278 7 45 Mark Ellis 2B .268 8 41
Raul Ibanez LF .276 6 50 Nick Swisher CF .261 11 46
Jose Guillen RF .277 10 51 Jack Cust RF .270 15 42
Richie Sexson 1B .209 15 48 Bobby Kielty DH .174 0 3
Adrian Beltre 3B .275 13 42 Eric Chavez 3B .247 12 42
Kenji Johjima C .294 8 32 Dan Johnson 1B .263 10 37
Willie Bloomquist SS .283 2 11 Bobby Crosby SS .229 7 29
Jason Ellison CF .147 0 0 Jason Kendall C .223 2 21

Ryan Feierabend LHP (1-3, 9.72) Joe Blanton RHP (8-4, 3.09)</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND
WARMUPS: SEA - RYAN FEIERABEND (1-3, 9.72)
OAK - JOE BLANTON (8-4, 3.09)

UMPIRES: HP - TRAVIS REININGER
1B - TED BARRETT
2B - TIM MCCLELLAND
3B - MARTY FOSTER

WEATHER: 66 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 7 mph, in from center</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND
STARTING BATS: SEA - RYAN FEIERABEND AND KENJI JOHJIMA
OAK - JOE BLANTON AND JASON KENDALL

DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: I SUZUKI (.360, 5 HR, 39 RBI)
J LOPEZ (.278, 7 HR, 45 RBI)
R IBANEZ (.276, 6 HR, 50 RBI)</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY JOSE LOPEZ SCORED ICHIRO SUZUKI.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: SEATTLE 1
OAKLAND 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: R IBANEZ (.276, 6 HR, 50 RBI)</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: SEA - RYAN FEIERABEND
OAK - JOE BLANTON

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.311, 7 HR, 26 RBI)
M ELLIS (.268, 8 HR, 41 RBI)
N SWISHER (.261, 11 HR, 46 RBI)</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">SEATTLE (1) VS OAKLAND (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Suzuki dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .360
J Lopez 2b 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .277
R Ibanez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
J Guillen rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
R Sexson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .208
A Beltre 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
K Johjima c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
W Bloomquist ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J Ellison cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .147

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: 3B - I Suzuki (4, J Blanton). RBI - J Lopez (46). Team LOB - 1.


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
J Cust rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
B Kielty dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .174
E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
SEATTLE - 1 -- 1
OAKLAND - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
R Feierabend 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9.72

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Blanton 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 3.13

Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 20-13. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 2-1.
Batters faced: J Blanton 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Travis Reininger. 1B--Ted Barrett. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Marty
Foster.

Weather: 66 degrees, sunny. Wind: 7 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND
CONFIRMED STARTERS: SEA - RYAN FEIERABEND
OAK - JOE BLANTON</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: SEA - RYAN FEIERABEND
OAK - JOE BLANTON

DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: A BELTRE (.275, 13 HR, 42 RBI)
K JOHJIMA (.294, 8 HR, 32 RBI)
W BLOOMQUIST (.283, 2 HR, 11 RBI)</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">SEATTLE (1) VS OAKLAND (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Suzuki dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .360
J Lopez 2b 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .277
R Ibanez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
J Guillen rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
R Sexson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .208
A Beltre 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
K Johjima c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
W Bloomquist ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J Ellison cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .147

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: 3B - I Suzuki (4, J Blanton). RBI - J Lopez (46). Team LOB - 1.


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .261
J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .268
B Kielty dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .174
E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
SEATTLE - 1 -- 1
OAKLAND - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
R Feierabend 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 9.35

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Blanton 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 3.13

Pitches-strikes: R Feierabend 20-10; J Blanton 20-13. Ground balls-fly balls:
R Feierabend 2-1; J Blanton 2-1. Batters faced: R Feierabend 4; J Blanton 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Travis Reininger. 1B--Ted Barrett. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Marty
Foster.

Weather: 66 degrees, sunny. Wind: 7 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: SEA - RYAN FEIERABEND
OAK - JOE BLANTON

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: B KIELTY (.174, 0 HR, 3 RBI)
E CHAVEZ (.247, 12 HR, 42 RBI)
D JOHNSON (.263, 10 HR, 37 RBI)</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">SEATTLE (1) VS OAKLAND (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Suzuki dh 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 .359
J Lopez 2b 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .277
R Ibanez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
J Guillen rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
R Sexson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .208
A Beltre 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .278
K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292
W Bloomquist ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
J Ellison cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .171

Totals 10 1 4 1 0 0 5

BATTING: 3B - I Suzuki (4, J Blanton). RBI - J Lopez (46). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - I Suzuki 1. Team LOB - 3.


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .261
J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .268
B Kielty dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .174
E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263
B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
SEATTLE - 10 -- 1
OAKLAND - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
R Feierabend 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 9.35

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Blanton 2 4 1 1 0 0 0 3.11

Pitches-strikes: R Feierabend 20-10; J Blanton 37-26. Ground balls-fly balls:
R Feierabend 2-1; J Blanton 3-3. Batters faced: R Feierabend 4; J Blanton 10.


UMPIRES: HP--Travis Reininger. 1B--Ted Barrett. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Marty
Foster.

Weather: 66 degrees, sunny. Wind: 7 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY ERIC CHAVEZ (13) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 2ND OFF RYAN FEIERABEND.
CURRENT SCORE: SEATTLE 1, OAKLAND 1

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: D JOHNSON (.263, 10 HR, 37 RBI)</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: SEA - RYAN FEIERABEND
OAK - JOE BLANTON

DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: J LOPEZ (.277, 0-FOR-1, RBI)
R IBANEZ (.275, 0-FOR-1)
J GUILLEN (.280, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">SEATTLE (1) VS OAKLAND (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Suzuki dh 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 .359
J Lopez 2b 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .277
R Ibanez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
J Guillen rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280
R Sexson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .208
A Beltre 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .278
K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292
W Bloomquist ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
J Ellison cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .171

Totals 10 1 4 1 0 0 5

BATTING: 3B - I Suzuki (4, J Blanton). RBI - J Lopez (46). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - I Suzuki 1. Team LOB - 3.


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .261
J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .268
B Kielty dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
E Chavez 3b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .249
D Johnson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .262
B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223

Totals 7 1 1 1 1 1 1

BATTING: HR - E Chavez (13, 2nd inning off R Feierabend 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - E
Chavez (43). Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
SEATTLE - 10 -- 1
OAKLAND - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
R Feierabend 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 9.33

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Blanton 2 4 1 1 0 0 0 3.11

Pitches-strikes: R Feierabend 34-20; J Blanton 37-26. Ground balls-fly balls:
R Feierabend 2-3; J Blanton 3-3. Batters faced: R Feierabend 8; J Blanton 10.


UMPIRES: HP--Travis Reininger. 1B--Ted Barrett. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Marty
Foster.

Weather: 66 degrees, sunny. Wind: 7 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: SEA - RYAN FEIERABEND
OAK - JOE BLANTON

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J KENDALL (.223, 2 HR, 21 RBI)
S STEWART (.310, 0-FOR-1)
M ELLIS (.267, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">SEATTLE (1) VS OAKLAND (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Suzuki dh 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 .359
J Lopez 2b 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .280
R Ibanez lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
J Guillen rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .279
R Sexson 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .207
A Beltre 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .278
K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292
W Bloomquist ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
J Ellison cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .171

Totals 14 1 5 1 0 0 8

BATTING: 3B - I Suzuki (4, J Blanton). RBI - J Lopez (46). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - I Suzuki 1. Team LOB - 4.


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .261
J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .268
B Kielty dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
E Chavez 3b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .249
D Johnson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .262
B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .223

Totals 7 1 1 1 1 1 1

BATTING: HR - E Chavez (13, 2nd inning off R Feierabend 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - E
Chavez (43). Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
SEATTLE - 100 -- 1
OAKLAND - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
R Feierabend 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 9.33

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Blanton 3 5 1 1 0 0 0 3.08

Pitches-strikes: R Feierabend 34-20; J Blanton 44-31. Ground balls-fly balls:
R Feierabend 2-3; J Blanton 4-5. Batters faced: R Feierabend 8; J Blanton 14.


UMPIRES: HP--Travis Reininger. 1B--Ted Barrett. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Marty
Foster.

Weather: 66 degrees, sunny. Wind: 7 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: SEA - RYAN FEIERABEND
OAK - JOE BLANTON

DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: A BELTRE (.278, 1-FOR-1)
K JOHJIMA (.292, 0-FOR-1)
W BLOOMQUIST (.280, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">SEATTLE (1) VS OAKLAND (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Suzuki dh 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 .359
J Lopez 2b 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .280
R Ibanez lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
J Guillen rf 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .279
R Sexson 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .207
A Beltre 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .278
K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292
W Bloomquist ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280
J Ellison cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .171

Totals 14 1 5 1 0 0 8

BATTING: 3B - I Suzuki (4, J Blanton). RBI - J Lopez (46). Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - I Suzuki 1. Team LOB - 4.


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
M Ellis 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .261
J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .268
B Kielty dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
E Chavez 3b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .249
D Johnson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .262
B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222

Totals 10 1 1 1 1 1 1

BATTING: HR - E Chavez (13, 2nd inning off R Feierabend 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - E
Chavez (43). Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
SEATTLE - 100 -- 1
OAKLAND - 010 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
R Feierabend 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 9.00

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Blanton 3 5 1 1 0 0 0 3.08

Pitches-strikes: R Feierabend 51-31; J Blanton 44-31. Ground balls-fly balls:
R Feierabend 2-6; J Blanton 4-5. Batters faced: R Feierabend 11; J Blanton 14.


UMPIRES: HP--Travis Reininger. 1B--Ted Barrett. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 3B--Marty
Foster.

Weather: 66 degrees, sunny. Wind: 7 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: SEA - RYAN FEIERABEND
OAK - JOE BLANTON

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: N SWISHER (.261, 0-FOR-0, BB)
J CUST (.268, 0-FOR-1)
B KIELTY (.167, 0-FOR-1)</div>