GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TORONTO (40-43) at OAKLAND (43-40)

AL: TORONTO (40-43) at OAKLAND (43-40)

<h3>Blue Jays, Athletics battle in series finale</h3>

<div class="pre">Toronto (40-40) at Oakland (43-40) 4:05 pm EDT</div>

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - The Oakland Athletics seek theirfourth win in five games when they host the Toronto Blue Jays inthe series finale on Wednesday.

Joe Blanton pitched his third complete game of the season andJack Crust homered as the Athletics were able to take advantageof two Blue Jay errors en route to a 3-1 victory on Tuesday.

"My curveball was working pretty well," Blanton said. "I wasable to throw it for strikes and that's what got me deep intothe game. Later in the game I was able to change speeds and Ithink that kept them off balance a little."

Joe Kennedy (2-6, 3.91 ERA) will try to get over the hump forthe first time in five games for the A's. The lefthanderallowed two runs and seven hits in six frames of a 2-1 setbackagainst the New York Mets on Friday.

Kennedy has been stellar against Toronto, posting a 6-1 recordwith 3.75 ERA in 17 lifetime appearances.

Blue Jays' Dustin McGowan (4-4, 5.15) aims to rebound from hislast outing after giving up five runs and eight hits throughfive frames for a loss at Seattle.

In his lone career start, McGowan was tagged for five runs in 41/3 inning here on July 29.

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

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

TORONTO OAKLAND
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Vernon Wells CF .252 11 45 Shannon Stewart LF .307 7 26
Alex Rios RF .292 17 47 Mark Kotsay CF .241 1 12
Troy Glaus 3B .278 11 36 Nick Swisher RF .267 10 45
Frank Thomas DH .247 14 43 Jack Cust DH .280 15 39
Aaron Hill 2B .269 9 46 Eric Chavez 3B .248 12 42
Matt Stairs LF .293 12 29 Dan Johnson 1B .269 10 35
Gregg Zaun C .223 3 19 Mark Ellis 2B .273 8 41
Curtis Thigpen 1B .323 0 4 Bobby Crosby SS .232 6 28
Royce Clayton SS .231 1 10 Jason Kendall C .226 2 21

Dustin Mcgowan RHP (4-4, 5.15) Joe Kennedy LHP (2-6, 3.91)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND
WARMUPS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN (4-4, 5.15)
OAK - JOE KENNEDY (2-6, 3.91)

UMPIRES: HP - LARRY VANOVER
1B - GREG GIBSON
2B - TONY RANDAZZO
3B - CHARLIE RELIFORD

WEATHER: 70 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 8 mph, in from center</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND
STARTING BATS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN AND GREGG ZAUN
OAK - JOE KENNEDY AND JASON KENDALL

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: V WELLS (.252, 11 HR, 45 RBI)
A RIOS (.292, 17 HR, 47 RBI)
T GLAUS (.278, 11 HR, 36 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
BASES LOADED WALK TO AARON HILL SCORED ALEX RIOS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A HILL ON FIRST, F THOMAS ON SECOND, T GLAUS
ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1
OAKLAND 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: M STAIRS (.293, 12 HR, 29 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MATT STAIRS SCORED TROY GLAUS AND FRANK THOMAS.

SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, M STAIRS ON SECOND, A HILL ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 3
OAKLAND 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: G ZAUN (.223, 3 HR, 19 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY GREGG ZAUN SCORED AARON HILL.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, M STAIRS ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 4
OAKLAND 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: C THIGPEN (.323, 0 HR, 4 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - PITCHING CHANGE
OAK: SHANE KOMINE (NO RECORD) IN THE 1ST
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, C THIGPEN ON FIRST, M STAIRS ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 4, OAKLAND 0

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R CLAYTON (.231, 1 HR, 10 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S Komine relieved J Kennedy.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, C THIGPEN ON FIRST, M STAIRS ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 4
OAKLAND 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: R Clayton (.231, 1 HR, 10 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
OAK - SHANE KOMINE

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.307, 7 HR, 26 RBI)
M KOTSAY (.241, 1 HR, 12 RBI)
N SWISHER (.267, 10 HR, 45 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">TORONTO (4) VS OAKLAND (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
A Rios rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .294
T Glaus 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .278
F Thomas dh 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .247
A Hill 2b 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 .269
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .297
G Zaun c 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .223
C Thigpen 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .323
R Clayton ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .229

Totals 4 4 2 4 4 0 2

BATTING: 2B - M Stairs (9, J Kennedy). SF - G Zaun. RBI - A Hill (47), M Stairs
2 (31), G Zaun (20). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Clayton 1.
Team LOB - 1.


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
M Kotsay cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
N Swisher rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J Cust dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 4 -- 4
OAKLAND - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.15

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Kennedy 2/3 2 4 4 4 0 0 4.28
S Komine 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: J Kennedy 36-17; S Komine 2-2. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Kennedy 0-2; S Komine 1-0. Batters faced: J Kennedy 8; S Komine 1.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--Greg Gibson. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Charlie
Reliford.

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
OAK - JOE KENNEDY</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
OAK - SHANE KOMINE

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: V WELLS (.252, 0-FOR-1)
A RIOS (.294, 1-FOR-1)
T GLAUS (.278, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">TORONTO (4) VS OAKLAND (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
A Rios rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .294
T Glaus 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .278
F Thomas dh 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .247
A Hill 2b 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 .269
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .297
G Zaun c 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .223
C Thigpen 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .323
R Clayton ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .229

Totals 4 4 2 4 4 0 3

BATTING: 2B - M Stairs (9, J Kennedy). SF - G Zaun. RBI - A Hill (47), M Stairs
2 (31), G Zaun (20). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Clayton 1.
Team LOB - 2.


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
N Swisher rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
J Cust dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 4 -- 4
OAKLAND - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.07

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Kennedy 2/3 2 4 4 4 0 0 4.28
S Komine 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: D McGowan 8-5; J Kennedy 36-17; S Komine 2-2. Ground
balls-fly balls: D McGowan 0-3; J Kennedy 0-2; S Komine 1-0. Batters faced: D
McGowan 3; J Kennedy 8; S Komine 1.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--Greg Gibson. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Charlie
Reliford.

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
OAK - SHANE KOMINE

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.280, 15 HR, 39 RBI)
E CHAVEZ (.248, 12 HR, 42 RBI)
D JOHNSON (.269, 10 HR, 35 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">TORONTO (4) VS OAKLAND (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
A Rios rf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .293
T Glaus 3b 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .277
F Thomas dh 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .247
A Hill 2b 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 .269
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .297
G Zaun c 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .223
C Thigpen 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .323
R Clayton ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .229

Totals 7 4 2 4 4 0 3

BATTING: 2B - M Stairs (9, J Kennedy). SF - G Zaun. RBI - A Hill (47), M Stairs
2 (31), G Zaun (20). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Clayton 1.
Team LOB - 2.


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
N Swisher rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
J Cust dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 40 -- 4
OAKLAND - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.07

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Kennedy 2/3 2 4 4 4 0 0 4.28
S Komine 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: D McGowan 8-5; J Kennedy 36-17; S Komine 12-9. Ground
balls-fly balls: D McGowan 0-3; J Kennedy 0-2; S Komine 3-1. Batters faced: D
McGowan 3; J Kennedy 8; S Komine 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--Greg Gibson. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Charlie
Reliford.

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
OAK - SHANE KOMINE

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: F THOMAS (.247, 0-FOR-0, BB)
A HILL (.269, 0-FOR-0, BB, RBI)
M STAIRS (.297, 1-FOR-1, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">TORONTO (4) VS OAKLAND (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
V Wells cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
A Rios rf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .293
T Glaus 3b 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .277
F Thomas dh 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .247
A Hill 2b 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 .269
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 .297
G Zaun c 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 .223
C Thigpen 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .323
R Clayton ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .229

Totals 7 4 2 4 4 0 3

BATTING: 2B - M Stairs (9, J Kennedy). SF - G Zaun. RBI - A Hill (47), M Stairs
2 (31), G Zaun (20). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Clayton 1.
Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - A Rios (5, fly ball).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239
N Swisher rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
J Cust dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .279
E Chavez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
D Johnson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .273
B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .231
J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226

Totals 7 0 0 0 1 1 2

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Crosby 1. Team LOB - 2.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 40 -- 4
OAKLAND - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
D McGowan 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.99

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
J Kennedy 2/3 2 4 4 4 0 0 4.28
S Komine 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

Pitches-strikes: D McGowan 27-15; J Kennedy 36-17; S Komine 12-9. Ground
balls-fly balls: D McGowan 1-4; J Kennedy 0-2; S Komine 3-1. Batters faced: D
McGowan 8; J Kennedy 8; S Komine 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Vanover. 1B--Greg Gibson. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Charlie
Reliford.

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, in from center.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY MATT STAIRS (13) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 3RD OFF SHANE KOMINE SCORED AARON HILL.
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 6, OAKLAND 0

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: G ZAUN (.223, 0-FOR-0, SF, RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at OAKLAND

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - DUSTIN MCGOWAN
OAK - SHANE KOMINE

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J KENDALL (.226, 2 HR, 21 RBI)
S STEWART (.306, 0-FOR-1)
M KOTSAY (.239, 0-FOR-1)</div>