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By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA, STATS Senior Writer
15 hours, 18 minutes ago
The Oakland Athletics were struggling at the plate before finally breaking out Sunday. A series with the Cleveland Indians could help their lineup build some momentum.
The Athletics look to continue their success at the plate against the Indians this season when the teams open a three-game set Tuesday night at Progressive Field.
Oakland (23-16) scored a total of four runs and went 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position en route to losses in its first two games against Texas this past weekend. But the Athletics, who had scored three runs or fewer in five of their previous eight games, won the series finale 12-6 on Sunday, going 7-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
The A’s have had plenty of success at the plate against the Indians (19-19) this season, going 4-2 while averaging 7.0 runs in the victories. Oakland has reached double digits in hits 13 times this season, and three of those contests have been against Cleveland.
Designated hitter Frank Thomas, batting .306 with 42 home runs and 155 RBIs in 187 career games against the Indians, drove in two runs Sunday to give him 1,695 RBIs and put him into a tie with Cal Ripken for 21st all-time. Thomas has driven in four runs in his last two games.
Oakland left fielder Emil Brown had a homer and four RBIs Sunday to increase his season total to a team-high 33.
“I’m not a walk guy,” said Brown, who has drawn just five walks in 153 plate appearances. “I’m just ready to hack.”
Cleveland starter Paul Byrd (1-3, 4.28 ERA), who will take the mound in the series opener, struggled against Oakland on April 4, giving up five runs - three earned - and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings as the Indians lost 6-3. He is 3-6 with a 5.77 ERA in 12 career starts against the A’s.
Byrd is also coming off one of his worst starts of the season. He surrendered five runs and eight hits - three home runs - in 6 1-3 innings Thursday as Cleveland lost 6-3 at the New York Yankees.
The right-hander, though, is 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA in three starts at home in 2008.
Oakland will counter with Justin Duchscherer (3-1, 2.45 ERA), who has won the last two of his three starts since coming off the disabled list.
Duchscherer, who had been sidelined with a strained biceps muscle in his throwing arm, has yet to allow more than two earned runs in a start this season. The right-hander gave up two runs and four hits in seven innings to earn a win as Oakland beat Baltimore 4-2 on Tuesday night.
Duchscherer matched up with Byrd on April 4 and picked up a win in his first start of the season, allowing one run in five innings. His other nine appearances against the Indians were all in relief, and he is 1-3 with a 4.73 ERA all-time against them.
Cleveland’s lineup struggled in a doubleheader split with Toronto on Monday, winning the opener 3-0 before falling 3-0 in the finale. The Indians combined for only eight hits and went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
“There’s no excuse for it,” said Cleveland manager Eric Wedge, whose club failed to finish a four-game sweep of the Blue Jays but has won five of its last seven overall.
15 hours, 18 minutes ago
The Oakland Athletics were struggling at the plate before finally breaking out Sunday. A series with the Cleveland Indians could help their lineup build some momentum.
The Athletics look to continue their success at the plate against the Indians this season when the teams open a three-game set Tuesday night at Progressive Field.
Oakland (23-16) scored a total of four runs and went 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position en route to losses in its first two games against Texas this past weekend. But the Athletics, who had scored three runs or fewer in five of their previous eight games, won the series finale 12-6 on Sunday, going 7-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
The A’s have had plenty of success at the plate against the Indians (19-19) this season, going 4-2 while averaging 7.0 runs in the victories. Oakland has reached double digits in hits 13 times this season, and three of those contests have been against Cleveland.
Designated hitter Frank Thomas, batting .306 with 42 home runs and 155 RBIs in 187 career games against the Indians, drove in two runs Sunday to give him 1,695 RBIs and put him into a tie with Cal Ripken for 21st all-time. Thomas has driven in four runs in his last two games.
Oakland left fielder Emil Brown had a homer and four RBIs Sunday to increase his season total to a team-high 33.
“I’m not a walk guy,” said Brown, who has drawn just five walks in 153 plate appearances. “I’m just ready to hack.”
Cleveland starter Paul Byrd (1-3, 4.28 ERA), who will take the mound in the series opener, struggled against Oakland on April 4, giving up five runs - three earned - and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings as the Indians lost 6-3. He is 3-6 with a 5.77 ERA in 12 career starts against the A’s.
Byrd is also coming off one of his worst starts of the season. He surrendered five runs and eight hits - three home runs - in 6 1-3 innings Thursday as Cleveland lost 6-3 at the New York Yankees.
The right-hander, though, is 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA in three starts at home in 2008.
Oakland will counter with Justin Duchscherer (3-1, 2.45 ERA), who has won the last two of his three starts since coming off the disabled list.
Duchscherer, who had been sidelined with a strained biceps muscle in his throwing arm, has yet to allow more than two earned runs in a start this season. The right-hander gave up two runs and four hits in seven innings to earn a win as Oakland beat Baltimore 4-2 on Tuesday night.
Duchscherer matched up with Byrd on April 4 and picked up a win in his first start of the season, allowing one run in five innings. His other nine appearances against the Indians were all in relief, and he is 1-3 with a 4.73 ERA all-time against them.
Cleveland’s lineup struggled in a doubleheader split with Toronto on Monday, winning the opener 3-0 before falling 3-0 in the finale. The Indians combined for only eight hits and went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
“There’s no excuse for it,” said Cleveland manager Eric Wedge, whose club failed to finish a four-game sweep of the Blue Jays but has won five of its last seven overall.
