Cincy Sporting News » Oakland Athletics

Cueto, Reds shuts down A’s 3-0

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:07:02 +0000

Associated Press

The Reds' Johnny Cueto improved to 5-3 in 11 career interleague starts.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Johnny Cueto nearly had a triple play turned behind him. A double play by the Cincinnati Reds still did plenty to protect his lead.

“Play of the game,” catcher Ramon Hernandez said.

Cueto pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning, Jay Bruce had an early two-run single on the way to his second straight three-hit game and the Reds earned a sweep of the Oakland Athletics with a 3-0 win Wednesday.

Cincinnati salvaged a .500 road trip after losing all three at Seattle over the weekend.

“We got swept, then we swept,” manager Dusty Baker said. “Not the way we planned it.”

Cueto (7-2) retired the first seven batters of the game before Mark Ellis doubled to shallow right with one out in the third. The right-hander responded well after losing 1-0 to Cliff Lee and the Mariners on Friday at Safeco Field.

So did Cincinnati’s defense.

The A’s had the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth but came out of it with nothing but their manager being ejected.

Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips made a heads-up play not fielding a soft liner by Gabe Gross and instead caught the ball on a short hop and threw home for a force. Hernandez fired to third baseman Miguel Cairo and he both stepped on the bag and tagged Kurt Suzuki. Had Cairo stepped on third and immediately thrown to second right away, Cincinnati would have had time to turn a triple play.

“Might’ve, but we were happy to get what we got, bases loaded, nobody out,” said Baker, who was eager to head to his Sacramento-area home after the game and sleep in his own bed before Thursday’s off day.

Phillips wildly jumped up and down in frustration at the missed chance for a rare triple play.

“We like to get on ESPN. Cairo kept us from getting on ESPN with a triple play,” Hernandez joked. “He messed up a little of our ESPN time.”

Oakland skipper Bob Geren was tossed by second base umpire and crew chief Jerry Crawford, arguing for the infield fly rule that would have made it only one out.

“In my opinion that’s an infield fly rule,” Geren said. “The rules state if it can be caught with ordinary effort outside of a line drive it can be called an infield fly. [Crawford] thought it was a semi-line drive, I thought it was more of a popup. We had a disagreement of what the ball did. It was a big part of the game — bases loaded, no outs. That’s frustrating.”

It was the second ejection this year and eighth overall for Geren, who emphatically threw his hat into the ground and continued to scream at Crawford for several minutes after being thrown out.

“I had no idea what was going on,” Suzuki said of the play. “Your first instinct on a ball hit like that is to go back to the base. Then they said it was a groundball, so I started running but by that time they had already thrown to home and third.”

Bruce’s single put the Reds ahead, and Cueto went right to work with the lead. He allowed seven hits, struck out four and walked two in seven-plus innings before leaving in the eighth after allowing back-to-back singles. Nick Masset quickly got Suzuki to ground into a double play and then struck out Kevin Kouzmanoff.

Francisco Cordero saved his second straight game — his 19th in 24 chances — after blowing the save but earning a win in Monday’s 6-4, 10-inning victory.

Jonny Gomes added an insurance run with an RBI double in the eighth for the Reds.

The A’s lost for the seventh time in eight games and 10th in 12 to fall a season-high six games under .500 (34-40). They are 6-16 this month.

Bruce was a big reason the Reds bounced back after being held to one total run in their sweep at Seattle. He had three hits Tuesday night and drove in a run Monday.

“Everybody forgot about that already,” Bruce said of the Mariners series.

Oakland starter Vin Mazzaro (2-2) is winless in three starts since earning back-to-back victories June 3 and 8, one in relief. He didn’t get any help from his hitters on a day Oakland managed only seven hits.

A’s center fielder Coco Crisp, playing only his fourth game of the year following two disabled list stints, called off left fielder Rajai Davis on Joey Votto’s flyball in the third but wound up dropping it for an error.

Votto also drew three walks and has reached base safely in 32 straight games, matching the longest in the majors this year also done by the Tampa Bay Rays’ Evan Longoria.

It’s the longest such streak by a Reds player since Austin Kearns reached in 32 consecutive games in 2003.

Game notes

A’s pitchers Josh Outman and Joey Devine, both recovering from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery, have been shut down and were set to be examined this week. … Reds right-hander Edinson Volquez, coming back from Tommy John surgery, allowed three hits and one run in five innings in his third rehab outing and first for Triple-A Louisville…. Reds right-hander Mike Leake won’t pitch this Sunday against the Cleveland Indians and instead will get two extra days’ rest and go Tuesday vs. the Philadelphia Phillies. … Reds GM Walt Jocketty said the team is likely to sign free-agent outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. by the weekend. It would be a minor league deal.

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Arroyo, Reds beat A’s 4-2

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:13:15 +0000

Associated Press

Bronson Arroyo (7-3) rediscovered his control and didn't walk a batter in eight strong innings.

OAKLAND, Calif. — What began as an awful road trip for the Cincinnati Reds is suddenly looking a lot better.

One total run in three losses at Seattle. Now, a pair of victories and a chance to sweep in Oakland.

“That’d be like a reverse sweep,” manager Dusty Baker quipped.

Bronson Arroyo rediscovered his control and didn’t walk a batter in eight strong innings, Corky Miller hit a two-run single and the Reds beat the Athletics 4-2 on Tuesday night.

“When you get swept like we did in Seattle, you take the mindset of we’ve got to win two of three from these guys,” Arroyo said.

Joey Votto added an RBI double in the third as the Reds quickly jumped on Dallas Braden, whose winless skid reached eight starts since his perfect game against Tampa Bay on May 9. Braden is 0-5 during that stretch and he’s even been growing a beard in an effort to get out of his funk.

“I may have a shaved head tomorrow,” Braden said good-naturedly.

A’s center fielder Coco Crisp hit a two-run homer in his third game this season following two stints on the disabled list, the latest with a strained rib cage. Crisp was activated earlier in the day and his third-inning drive was his first homer since May 12, 2009, for Kansas City at Oakland.

“I was a little nervous, as expected,” Crisp said. “It’s always nice when you can do something above and beyond.”

Arroyo (7-3) was coming off a career-high six walks in a win over the Dodgers, but commanded the strike zone this time for his first start of the season without a walk.

“That’s Bronson, he can get on a roll,” Baker said. “It’s much welcomed. He was dealing tonight and made just one mistake.”

Arroyo allowed two runs and five hits in a 105-pitch performance, winning his third straight decision against the A’s, but first since Sept. 17, 2005, for Boston.

Arroyo relied on his effective changeup and sinker, what Crisp described as “a weird assortment of pitches.”

“He just flicks it up there,” Crisp said.

Francisco Cordero allowed a pair of singles in the ninth but recovered for his 18th save in 23 chances as the Reds stayed within a game of NL Central-leading St. Louis, which won at Toronto. Ryan Sweeney grounded into a double play to end the 2-hour, 27-minute game.

The A’s dropped to 34-39 and a season-worst five games under .500. They lost for the sixth time in seven games and ninth in 11.

Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce each had three hits for Cincinnati, which rallied for a 6-4, 10-inning win in Monday’s series opener to get back on track after the struggles at Safeco Field last weekend.

“I just think we learned our lesson in Seattle,” Phillips said. “We’ve just got to get our pitches to hit. It’s time to battle down, forget Seattle and move on.”

Votto’s double in the third marked his 31st straight game in which he’s reached safely, the second-longest such streak in the majors this year.

Oakland is 6-15 in June and a season-high 9 1/2 games behind AL West-leading Texas after the A’s led the division at the end of May.

Braden (4-7) allowed 10 hits, one off his season high, and four runs in six innings. The left-hander hasn’t gone more than 6 1/3 innings in his last seven starts after lasting eight innings in his first outing after the perfecto, on May 14 against the Angels in Anaheim.

“Plenty of speed bumps,” Braden said of his latest start. “The car ran pretty good. Turn 1 was good, Turn 2 and 3 had some speed bumps. I got into Turn 4, 5, a couple speed bumps, Turn 6 kind of flattened out. Overall, bumpy track.”

Game notes

Baker hosted longtime buddy and blues and rock-and-roll musician Elvin Bishop in his office before the game. The two are regular fishing partners in Northern California during the offseason. … Baker planned to rest 3B Scott Rolen for Wednesday afternoon’s series finale, which would give him a two-day break with Thursday’s off day. … Baker’s rotation is penciled in up until the All-Star break but he said he has the flexibility to give pitchers an extra day between starts if he determines someone needs it. … Reds RHP Edinson Volquez, who had Tommy John surgery last Aug. 3, is still on track to return before the All-Star break. “Getting Volquie back is like making a major trade and not giving up anybody,” Baker said. … Oakland’s Kevin Kouzmanoff, who came in batting .417 (20 for 48) in interleague play this season, went 0 for 3.

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Reds hold off A’s in 6-4 win

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:13:16 +0000

Associated Press

Cincinnati rookie Mike Leake was just as solid but left with a no-decision for the fifth time in his last seven starts. The right-hander didn't allow a hit until Pennington's one-out bloop single in the third and got some help from his defense.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Ramon Hernandez wasn’t surprised Cincinnati‘s offense went into a slump over the weekend. He wasn’t shocked, either, when the Reds broke out in a big way in Oakland.

Hernandez hit a tiebreaking home run leading off the 10th inning, Joey Votto and Scott Rolen added back-to-back shots and the Reds beat the Athletics 6-4 on Monday night.

“You know you’re going to go through ups and downs,” Hernandez said. “There are a lot of games and you can’t just be on in all of them. It’s impossible. The big thing is we’re just trying to stay out of those long cool-off times.”

The Reds scored just one run while getting swept by the Mariners and managed only an unearned run off A’s starter Gio Gonzalez before getting three home runs in the 10th.

Hernandez hit an 0-1 pitch from Michael Wuertz (2-1) that bounced off the right-field foul pole, breaking a 2-2 tie. Brandon Phillips hit a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice before Votto’s two-run shot off Cedrick Bowers. Rolen followed with his home run, tying Votto for the team lead with 15.

“You knew we were due for a big inning,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “It was huge. It seems like when your bats are sick, everybody’s bats are sick but when bats get well it seems like everybody’s bats get well at the same time.”

The win moved Baker into a tie with Chuck Tanner for 26th place on the all-time list.

Cincinnati had taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth when pinch-hitter Jay Bruce singled off Oakland closer Andrew Bailey to drive in Drew Stubbs.

Oakland’s Kevin Kouzmanoff tied the game with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth off Reds closer Francisco Cordero before the Reds powered up in the 10th off Wuertz and Bowers.

Cordero (3-3) got the win after his fifth blown save of the season. He gave up Kouzmanoff’s home run and walked the first two Oakland batters in the 10th before two Cincinnati relievers were needed to finish the game.

After Cordero’s two walks in the 10th, Kurt Suzuki singled off Daniel Ray Herrera to load the bases. Ryan Sweeney’s fielder’s choice made it 6-3 before Jordan Smith got Kouzmanoff on a run-scoring grounder and then struck out Jack Cust for his first career save.

The Reds won for just the second time in 10 regular-season games against the A’s, who have dropped eight of their last 10 overall.

“This is a critical time of the season,” Oakland manager Bob Geren said. “We were right there in first place a couple of weeks ago and we’re going through a rough time. We’re giving up too many home runs, that’s for sure.”

Gonzalez gave up an unearned run in the first inning after shortstop Cliff Pennington bobbled Phillips’ grounder. Votto’s one-out double drove in Phillips, Cincinnati’s second run scored in 31 innings.

The Reds didn’t get much else off Gonzalez, who scattered four hits over seven innings. He also had nine strikeouts, one shy of his career high.

Cincinnati rookie Mike Leake was just as solid but left with a no-decision for the fifth time in his last seven starts. The right-hander didn’t allow a hit until Pennington’s one-out bloop single in the third and got some help from his defense. After Conor Jackson singled in Rajai Davis in the fifth, Cincinnati left fielder Jonny Gomes threw out Daric Barton at third base after Barton overslid the bag.

Game notes

Baker is making a pitch for LHP Arthur Rhodes to be included on the NL All-Star team. Rhodes, who carried a league-leading 0.29 ERA into Monday, has not been scored upon in 29 innings. … DH Cust was back in the A’s lineup after pinch-hitting in each of the three games against St. Louis. Cust went 0-for-4. … Pennington committed his team-leading 10th error in the first inning. … Manager Bob Geren said before the game that LHP Brett Anderson (sore elbow, forearm) might not return to the A’s rotation for 3-4 weeks. … LHP Dallas Braden will start for Oakland on Tuesday and is seeking his first win in eight starts since pitching a perfect game on May 9. … Kouzmanoff is batting .396 (19 for 48) in interleague play this season.

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Oaklands Braden is perfect against Rays

admin — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:26:25 +0000

Associated Press

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Dallas Braden celebrates after throwing a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Dallas Braden definitely owns the mound now. Braden pitched the 19th perfect game in major league history on Sunday, shutting down the majors’ hottest team and leading the Oakland Athletics to a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Braden threw his arms in the air after Gabe Kapler grounded out to shortstop for the final out, his simmering feud with Yankees star Alex Rodriguez merely a footnote to the first perfect game for Oakland in 42 years.

The closest the Rays got to a hit was Jason Bartlett’s liner to third leading off the game. Evan Longoria tried to bunt leading off the fifth, drawing boos from the small crowd.

“Pretty cool,” Braden said. “I don’t know what to think about it just yet. There’s definitely a select group. I’d like to have a career more than today.”

Before this gem, Braden was best known for his enraged reaction to Rodriguez walking across the mound on April 22. Still angry after the game, he told the slugger “to go do laps in the bullpen” if he wanted to traipse across a mound.

The squabble was still simmering last week. On Friday in Boston, Rodriguez said he didn’t want to extend Braden’s “extra 15 minutes of fame.”

A-Rod struck a far more conciliatory tone Sunday.

“I’ve learned in my career that it’s always better to be remembered for some of the good things you do on the field, and good for him,” Rodriguez said before facing Boston. “He threw a perfect game. And, even better, he beat the Rays.”

That said, Braden’s grandmother may have gotten the last word:

“Let’s forget it, uh huh – and stick it, A-Rod,” said a chuckling Peggy Lindsey, who was in the stands watching.

After the Yankees’ 9-3 loss at Boston, Rodriguez was told a comment – presumably referring to Lindsey’s remark – was made following Braden’s perfect game.

“Uncle. No more guys,” Rodriguez said.

Asked about it later in a different way, he said: “Uncle. Uncle.” And then, Rodriguez walked away.

This was the majors’ first perfect game since Mark Buehrle did it for the White Sox against the Rays on July 23, and the second no-hitter this season after Colorado’s Ubaldo Jimenez accomplished it in Atlanta on April 17.

“I’m a bad omen. That’s the third perfect game and fourth no-hitter I’ve been on the wrong side of,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “When Kenny Rogers threw his I was the bullpen coach. If you want to see another one, just follow me around.”

Braden pitched the A’s first perfect game since Hall of Famer Jim “Catfish” Hunter’s gem on May 8, 1968, against the Minnesota Twins. Only 6,298 were there to witness it. Sunday’s crowd at the Coliseum wasn’t much better: 12,228.

Braden (4-2) wasn’t fazed by anything, locating his fastball in every spot, throwing two-strike changeups and getting quick outs against a Rays team that lost on the road for just the third time this year. He struck out six in the improbable 109-pitch performance, throwing 77 strikes in his 53rd career start and first complete game.

Braden’s teammates mobbed him when the Mother’s Day masterpiece was over, leaving bats and gloves scattered on the field. The left-hander pointed to the sky in honor of his single mom, Jodie Atwood, who died of skin cancer when he was a high school senior. He shared a long and tearful hug with Lindsey, who helped raise him, in front of the dugout.

“It hasn’t been a joyous day for me in a while,” Braden said. “With my grandma in the stands, it makes it a lot better.”

Braden’s perfect game was the sixth no-hitter in Oakland history. The 26-year-old Braden, a native of nearby Stockton, was a 24th-round draft pick by the A’s in 2004. He improved his career record to 18-23.

“Little League, I got a couple of them under my belt,” Braden said. “In the bullpen, I’m damn near perfect every day.”

His grandmother gets the game ball, the Stockton Hall of Fame everything else. Dozens of supporters from Stockton packed the Coliseum’s Section 209 – the number of their area code.

Last Mother’s Day, Braden was hit by a line drive by Vernon Wells.

“You know, a year later you don’t expect anything like this,” he said. “I’m just happy to be putting on the costume a year later.”

The A’s defense didn’t even have to make a really tough play in fair territory.

Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff sprinted to the dirt in front of Oakland’s dugout to catch a foul popup by Dioner Navarro for the second out in the sixth. Kapler then fouled out on a 12-pitch at-bat on another ball caught by Kouzmanoff. Navarro fouled off five straight pitches before the popup.

In the eighth, Kouzmanoff went down the dugout steps to snare Carlos Pena’s foul.

“I told him he needs to quit stealing my thunder,” Braden said. “He makes ridiculous plays.”

Landon Powell – who caught the game with regular catcher Kurt Suzuki injured – Kouzmanoff and Ryan Sweeney each singled in runs for the A’s, who added two unearned runs in the fourth after catcher Navarro’s throwing error.

This was even a first for longtime umpire Jim Wolf, who worked home plate.

“You do get caught up in it a little bit,” said Wolf, who watched younger brother Randy throw a perfect game and no-hitter as a high-schooler.

James Shields (4-1) failed to beat the A’s for the second time in 12 days after striking out 12 in a 10-3 win April 28.

NOTES: The A’s last no-hitter was by Dave Stewart on June 29, 1990, at Toronto. … Maddon is open to the idea of Longoria playing every day this season. “I’m not opposed to it,” Maddon said. “We’ll look at it. If he’s well, I believe he’s capable of all the games.”

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Oakland routs Indians 10-0

admin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:04:19 +0000

Associated Press

Oakland Athletics' Daric Barton, right, breaks up a double play attempt with Cleveland Indians Asdrubal Cabrera during the first inning.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Eric Chavez has been through so much physically in recent years he won’t allow himself to get overly excited about one big day with the bat.

It’s a constant process for Oakland‘s converted designated hitter to keep himself ready: warming up, stretching, hitting the weight room after games before finally recovering. Whatever it takes.

Chavez hit a two-run double and also singled in a run to help Gio Gonzalez win for the first time in three starts, and the Athletics pounded the Cleveland Indians 11-0 on Sunday to take the series.

“Does it feel good? Yeah. Does it mean I’m going to go on a hot streak the next month? I don’t know anything about that,” Chavez said. “There’s been really good days and really bad days. It feels like I’ve been seeing the ball really good all year, but I’ve been missing so many pitches. I’m still trying to find that flatline where I can just worry about baseball.”

Kevin Kouzmanoff returned to the A’s lineup and added a three-run double. He sat out Saturday to give him time to heal after fouling a pitch off his foot. Kouzmanoff’s fifth-inning hit chased Justin Masterson (0-3).

Eric Patterson homered and hit a two-run triple, matching his career high with three RBIs.

For Chavez, this was an encouraging sign after several frustrating, injury-filled seasons. The six-time Gold Glove third baseman is now the A’s designated hitter batting in the cleanup spot.

Chavez, limited to eight games in his injury-shortened 2009 campaign, drove in three runs for the first time since June 3, 2008, against Detroit. He underwent season-ending back surgery last June and has had five operations since Sept. 5, 2007, including two microdiscectomy surgeries in different spots in his back.

The double snapped an 0-for-17 stretch by Chavez with runners in scoring position.

“It’s going to continue to get better,” he said of his road back. “I knew early on it would be an up-and-down ride for me. As long as I can continue climbing that wall.”

Jake Fox and Adam Rosales each singled in a run as the A’s did plenty to support Gonzalez (2-1), who escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth but otherwise was hardly challenged. Gonzalez bounced back after he was tagged for five runs and three hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 7-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday.

He matched his career high by going seven innings. He allowed five hits, struck out three and walked two.

“It’s awesome when you can go seven innings like that and the offense takes a load off your shoulders,” Gonzalez said. “Scoring 11, it’s unbelievable.”

Chavez got everything started. He doubled in the first, then added the RBI single in the third.

The 32-year-old Chavez was ready for a fresh start this season. He ended last year with one hit in his last 22 at-bats. He hit .100 with one RBI. That’s after he played in only 23 games in 2008, and 90 in ’07.

Chavez picked up his 726th run on Kouzmanoff’s double, moving him past Sal Bando and into sole possession of fourth place on Oakland’s career list.

The A’s earned their third shutout and second of the series after winning 10-0 Friday night. Cleveland, which hasn’t won a series in Oakland since July 29-31, 2002, was blanked for the fourth time.

“I’m gonna tell you for the last time, if I win 90 games I don’t care that the other 70 that I lose are shutouts,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “All I care about is winning and losing ballgames. Shutouts is a terminology of you losing a game. It wasn’t going to make me feel any better if I had lost 11-1 today.”

Oakland had lost four of six, but gained some momentum with a nice win before taking off for a six-game trip beginning with two in Tampa Bay starting Tuesday and ending with a four-game series in Toronto.

The A’s played without catcher Kurt Suzuki for the second straight game as he deals with tightness in his left side. Suzuki hopes to return Tuesday night against the Rays.

Oakland first baseman Daric Barton injured his right middle finger when he slid into the dugout making a catch on Matt LaPorta’s foul ball to start the seventh. Barton left immediately after the game for X-rays.

Game notes

The A’s had 15 hits. … Indians closer Kerry Wood threw a bullpen session two days after a one-inning simulated game in which his injured back became sore and he wasn’t sharp as he’d hoped. Acta said Wood will throw another bullpen Wednesday at Anaheim and then the pitcher’s next step would be determined from there. The plan is for him to do a rehab outing before he returns. … A’s LHP Brett Anderson, who left his outing Saturday after the sixth inning because of tightness in his left elbow, might have his next start pushed back. He didn’t throw Sunday and will test his arm again Tuesday before a decision is made. … CF Coco Crisp, yet to make his Oakland debut because of a broken left pinkie finger, is set to begin baseball activities in two weeks. … Oakland RHP Michael Wuertz, on the DL with shoulder tendinitis, pitched two scoreless innings in a rehab outing for Class-A Stockton. He threw 21 strikes among his 26 pitches.

Cleveland (7-9) at Oakland (11-7) Preview

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 16:34:07 +0000

STATS LLC

4:05 PM ET, April 24, 2010 Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California

OAKLAND, CA — While much of Oakland’s success can be attributed to its strong pitching staff, the other half of the battery is helping out with his bat.

Coming off another impressive night at the plate, catcher Kurt Suzuki looks to help the Athletics continue their home dominance of the Cleveland Indians on Saturday in the middle game of this weekend series.

After finishing with losing records each of the past three seasons, Oakland (11-7) has a pleasant surprise early in 2010. Off to their best start since going 12-6 in 1992, the A’s are closing in on their 12th victory — a mark they didn’t reach last season until their 30th game.

An AL-best 2.92 ERA has spurred the success. Starters Brett Anderson, Dallas Braden, Ben Sheets and Justin Duchscherer all boast ERA’s of 2.77 or lower.

Duchscherer and two relievers combined on a five hitter in Friday’s series-opening 10-0 win, as Oakland improved to 7-1 at home against the Indians since 2008.

Suzuki has batted .414 with three home runs, seven RBIs and 10 runs in those matchups. He homered and singled twice in Friday’s opener, and is 6 for 14 with three home runs and seven RBIs in his last four games overall.

“I know I’m not a guy that’s going to go out there and just mash homers all over the place,” said Suzuki, who hit a career-high 15 home runs in 2009. “I’m more of a contact kind of guy and hit the gaps and occasionally run into one like I did (Friday).”

Suzuki’s batterymate Saturday will be Anderson, who must try to put a forgettable outing behind him.

Anderson (1-1, 2.65 ERA) agreed to a $12.5 million, four-year contract with the A’s last Friday after throwing 12 shutout innings over his first two outings, but he didn’t look much like a player deserving of a contract extension Sunday against major league-worst Baltimore. The left-hander shut out the Orioles through the first two frames to run his scoreless streak to 14 innings, but gave up six runs over the next three and was removed after the fifth in an 8-3 loss.

An 11-game winner as a rookie in 2009, Anderson may well fare better against a struggling Indians team. In his only start against Cleveland, Anderson allowed four hits and struck out a career-high 10 in six shutout innings of a 2-1 home win Sept. 18.

The Indians (7-9) counter with Fausto Carmona (2-0, 3.60), who has given up three runs or fewer in each of his first three starts of what’s shaping up as a strong comeback season. The right-hander went 5-12 with a 6.32 ERA last season and didn’t notch his third victory until his 17th start.

Carmona allowed three runs and six hits in six innings of a 7-4 home victory over Chicago on Sunday. After issuing 10 walks in his first two starts, Carmona displayed better command, walking two while throwing first-pitch strikes to 19 of 25 batters.

Carmona is 1/3 with a 10.69 ERA in his last four starts against the A’s. He endured one of the worst outings of his career against them last season, getting tagged for nine runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings of an 11-4 loss Sept. 20.

The Indians had another tough day at the plate Friday, hitting into five double plays.

Cleveland, which has the second-fewest runs in the AL with 54, has lost three of four, combining for one run in those three defeats.

“We’ve been struggling offensively, so whether we’re being shut out or we lost 3-1, it’s still a loss,” manager Manny Acta said.

A’s pound Indians 10-0

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 14:25:50 +0000

Associated Press

Oakland Athletics Adam Rosales, right, hops over Cleveland Indians' Russell Branyan (33) after completing a double play throw to first base during the second inning.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Justin Duchscherer wasn’t as crisp as he has been with some of his pitches. It didn’t matter as his Oakland teammates turned five double plays in the field.

Duchscherer and two Oakland relievers combined on a five-hitter, and Kurt Suzuki homered for the second consecutive day as the A’s beat the Cleveland Indians 10-0 on Friday night.

“That’s comforting for a pitcher when you know you can put the ball in play and the defense can play like that behind you,” Duchscherer said. “You never expect double plays. What you do expect is if the ball’s hit to [the defense] they’re going to make plays. They consistently show that.”

Duchscherer (2-0) battled command problems most of the night and walked a season-high four batters but earned his second win in his last three starts thanks to Oakland’s defense which repeatedly bailed him out. The five double plays were the most by the A’s since June 5, 2007 and one shy of the franchise record.

Duchscherer walked at least one batter in each of the first four innings but the A’s turned four double plays behind him to shut down each threat. Duchscherer helped himself, too, when he picked off Shin-Soo Choo at first base in the sixth.

“It’s something you don’t expect, five double plays in one game,” Oakland manager Bob Geren said. “[Duchscherer] uncharacteristically walked some guys but he also had such good command with his cutter and breaking ball that when he gets in trouble he can make a pitch to get out of the inning, which he did, a bunch of times.”

Tyson Ross pitched two hitless innings and Brad Kilby worked the ninth to complete the five-hitter for Oakland and kept the Indians from breaking out of their early-season scoring slump.

Cleveland, which went into the game having scored the second-fewest runs in the AL, stranded four runners against Oakland and was shutout for the second time in three games and third time overall this season

“We’ve been struggling offensively, so whether we’re being shut out or we lost 3-1, it’s still a loss,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “That’s what we care about here. We know we’re struggling offensively.”

Kevin Kouzmanoff drove in two runs to snap out of a long batting slump with runners in scoring position to help Oakland win its second straight after a season-high three-game losing streak. At 11-7, the A’s have their best record after 18 games since going 12-6 in 1992.

Suzuki, whose three-run home run off Yankees ace CC Sabathia keyed Oakland’s 4-2 win over New York on Thursday, hit a two-run shot off Cleveland’s Jake Westbrook in the sixth inning. Suzuki also had two singles and now has four home runs in 18 games after having 15 all of 2009.

“I know I’m not a guy that’s going to go out there and just mash homers all over the place,” Suzuki said. “I’m more of a contact kind of guy and hit the gaps and occasionally run into one like I did tonight. I’m still learning how to hit, learning my swing.”

Westbrook (0-2) pitched well early and was backed by a pair of double plays from Cleveland’s defense but took the loss after running into trouble in the sixth. The right-hander, who was limited to three minor league starts last season after undergoing reconstructive right elbow surgery in June 2008, gave up eight hits and four runs.

Cleveland also committed three errors after having only seven in its first 15 games.

The A’s scored their first run off Westbrook in the fourth. Daric Barton walked leading off and took third on Suzuki’s hit-and-run single, then Kouzmanoff followed with a two-out, RBI-single to center. The hit snapped the veteran third baseman out of a 1-for-17 slump with runners in scoring position.

Barton doubled and scored again in the sixth on Ryan Sweeney’s single, then Suzuki followed with his second home run in as many games, a two-run blast to left-center that made it 4-0.

Oakland batted around and scored six runs off Cleveland reliever Jamey Wright in the eighth. Rajai Davis delivered the biggest blow with a two-out, bases-loaded double that drove in three runs.

Game notes

Westbrook hasn’t won since April 8, 2008. … Cleveland’s Asdrubal Cabrera led off the game with a single and has hit safely in each of his last eight games. … Chavez is tied with Sal Bando for fourth place on Oakland’s career scoring list. … The A’s recalled Kilby from Triple-A Sacramento before the game and optioned C Landon Powell to the minors. … Oakland has won six straight against the Indians.

Cleveland (7-8) at Oakland (10-7) Preview

admin — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:52:41 +0000

STATS LLC

10:05 PM ET, April 23, 2010 Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California

OAKLAND, CA — Cleveland‘s Jake Westbrook and Oakland‘s Justin Duchscherer are working their way back from injuries that kept them sidelined for all of 2009.

Each pitcher walked away from his last start with reason for optimism.

Westbrook and Duchscherer will square off Friday to open a three-game series between the Indians and Athletics.

Westbrook (0-1, 5.40 ERA) is winless since beating the Angels on April 8, 2008, but is coming off one of his best outings since undergoing elbow surgery that kept him sidelined last year.

The right-hander, who won 44 games from 2004-06, pitched seven innings against the White Sox on Saturday, allowing two runs and five hits in a 3-2 win. The Indians (7-8) had lost his previous two starts.

“You can tell he’s feeling good,” manager Manny Acta told the Indians’ official web site. “You can tell he’s over the hump with his injury.”

Westbrook has won his last five decisions against Oakland (10-7), posting a 2.34 ERA over those six starts. He has not faced the Athletics since 2007.

It’s been a similar journey for Duchscherer (1-0, 2.41), a former All-Star who missed last season due to an elbow injury and clinical depression. After pitching 7 1/3 scoreless innings against Seattle on April 12, he gave up two unearned runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 4-3 win over Baltimore on Saturday. He did not factor in the decision.

“I’m still not quite physically 100 percent,” he told the Athletics’ official web site. “I’m still fighting it, but I felt like I stayed in the game long enough to keep us in there.”

The right-hander went 1-1 with a 1.54 ERA in two starts against the Indians in 2008. He’s also made nine career relief appearances versus Cleveland.

Oakland snapped a three-game losing streak Thursday by beating the New York Yankees 4-2 in an eventful finale of a three-game series.

Kurt Suzuki hit a three-run homer, but also hit into a triple play in the sixth inning. The game also included a spat between Alex Rodriguez and Oakland starter Dallas Braden, who was upset when the Yankees star cut across the mound after Robinson Cano fouled off a pitch during the sixth inning.

“I’m not really a speck on that guy’s radar but he’ll know after today that it might not be a good idea to run across the mound when I’m out there,” Braden said.

The Athletics have had few problems recently when the Indians have come to town, winning 11 of the last 13 home meetings in this series including a four-game sweep last September.

After dropping the first two games of its series in Minnesota, Cleveland won 8-1 on Thursday to avoid a sweep. The Indians had six doubles to help them match their highest scoring output of the season.

Andy Marte made the most of his start at third base, going 2 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs after entering the game 1 for 8 on the season.

“I know that at the end of the season that the runs are going to be there and that our offense is going to be there,” said Acta, whose club mustered one run and 12 hits in its first two games at Target Field.

Cleveland totaled 11 runs in last season’s four losses at Oakland.

Reds 8, Athletics 3

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:20:26 +0000

Associated Press

The 22-year-old Leake was the Reds' first-round selection, and the eighth pick overall, in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft but didn't play professionally during the regular season last year before debuting in the Arizona Fall League. Should he win the fifth spot, he'd become the rare pitcher to skip the Minor Leagues and go straight to the Majors. He was 16-1 with a 1.36 ERA in 17 games for Arizona State last year.

PHOENIX — Although Mike Leake is likely to begin the regular season in the minors, the Cincinnati right-hander is giving Reds management plenty to think about.

Leake pitched six strong innings in his final start of the spring, scattering two runs and four hits in Cincinnati‘s 8-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday.

The eighth overall pick in last June’s draft, Leake has been the Reds’ biggest surprise in camp given his lack of professional experience. With his nasty curve, he stayed in the competition for the fifth spot in Cincinnati’s rotation until the end and didn’t do anything to hurt himself with the solid outing against Oakland.

“I did what I could,” Leake said. “I’m just patiently waiting. That’s what I needed to do. If I came out here and didn’t do so hot, it would have probably helped them make a decision. Hopefully what I did was good enough in their eyes.”

Good enough to keep them deliberating.

“He’s done everything he can possibly do in his power to make the club,” Reds’ pitching coach Bryan Price said.

Drew Stubbs homered, doubled and drove in three runs, Lance Nix also homered and Scott Rolen hit a three-run double in the sixth for the Reds, who snapped a six-game losing streak while beating the A’s for the third time this spring.

Travis Buck hit a solo home run and Eric Patterson added a double and sacrifice fly for Oakland.

Every Cincinnati starter had at least one hit while Stubbs and Rolen had three RBIs apiece.

While the offensive outburst was a welcome sight for the Reds, Leake’s outing was also impressive. In his second start of the spring, he retired 12 of the first 14 batters he faced and carried a shutout into the fifth until Buck’s leadoff home run. Leake then walked Gabe Gross, who later scored on Patterson’s sacrifice fly.

Leake and left-hander Travis Wood have been competing for the fifth spot in Cincinnati’s rotation and the team is expected to make an announcement Thursday.

Wood, who seems to have the edge on Leake based on experience, has also pitched strongly this spring. A second-round pick in June 2005 out of high school, he was scheduled to start against the Dodgers in a split-squad game in Las Vegas later Wednesday.

Left-hander Aroldis Chapman made his first appearance in a big-league game since he had back spasms on March 22. He gave up a hit and a walk in his first inning, when he threw mainly fastballs. He worked on his slider in his next inning, walked a pair of batters and gave up a run.

“I felt great,” Chapman said through an interpreter. “I threw a couple of sliders out of the strike zone. I haven’t thrown a lot of sliders in the bullpen, so today I wanted to throw more sliders than fastballs.”

Stubbs hit a solo home run in the second then added a two-run double in the fourth. Both came off Oakland starter Dallas Braden, who was roughed up for seven runs and 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Braden’s afternoon was in sharp contrast to Leake’s.

The Oakland lefty, who has nerve damage in his left foot that causes it to go numb from time to time, allowed at least one hit every inning while struggling with his fastball command. But Braden didn’t seem too concerned and brushed off his final Cactus League start.

“Spring training’s over, that’s my impression of it,” Braden said. “It’s quite difficult to get up for the last thing. But all things considered my ultimate goal was to leave healthy. That will be achieved barring getting ran over by the bus or something. Everything else felt good. I was just up in the zone a little.”

Oakland’s Eric Chavez, making the change to first base this season, played two innings at third and two at shortstop, while utility infielder Adam Rosales played four different positions.

The A’s flew back to the Bay Area after the game to prepare for a three-game Bay Bridge exhibition series against the San Francisco Giants.

Cincinnati, on the other hand, will remain in Arizona and finish with one game against Texas and two against Cleveland. The Indians and Reds share a spring training stadium.

Game notes

Stubbs’ homer was his fifth, matching OF Jonny Gomes for the team lead. … The homer extended Stubbs’ hitting streak to 12 games, the longest by a Reds player this spring. .. A’s DH Jack Cust was a late scratch due to allergies. Backup catcher Landon Powell took Cust’s spot in the lineup and went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts … Oakland All-Star closer Andrew Bailey, the AL rookie of the year in 2009, pitched a scoreless inning in his second appearance since missing two weeks with a sore elbow. … Cincinnati 3B Scott Rolen forgot to pack his jersey for the trip and ended up having to wear a generic one with no name or number on the back. “Veteran memory loss,” Rolen said.

Adam Rosales is making serious run for roster spot

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:43:17 +0000

Associated Press

Oakland Athletics' Adam Rosales (7) keeps his eye on the ball during batting practice at a spring training workout at the Papago Park Baseball Complex, in Phoenix, Ariz.

PHOENIX — Adam Rosales didn’t wear a Cincinnati Reds uniform very long, but his all-out style of play earned him a pretty nice comparison.

The infielder became known in Cincinnati as “Pete Rosales,” a reference to Pete Rose, a rather famous ex-Red who also gained attention for his hustle.

Rosales has impressed the A’s with more than his attitude since coming over in a Feb. 1 trade. He’s played well enough this spring to put heat on Cliff Pennington in the battle for the starting shortstop job.

Despite the competition, Rosales goes about his business like a man who understands he’s getting paid to play a kid’s game.

“I’ve just kind of always listened to what the coaches said,” Rosales, 26, said. “One thing that was always constant was work hard, play hard, be smart. You should always enjoy the game.”

The A’s knew they were getting a high-energy player when they acquired Rosales for infielder Aaron Miles and a player to be named (the A’s also got outfielder Willy Taveras in the deal but released him immediately).

They like the results they’ve seen, as well.

Rosales has hit .333 in 14 Cactus League games, seeing action at second base and third base as well as shortstop.

He hit just .213 in 87 games last season with Cincinnati, but his versatility attracted the A’s. He played all four infield spots last season.

But the first thing usually mentioned about Rosales is his hustle, not surprising for a

player who hardly took the express route to the major leagues.

Cincinnati drafted him in the 12th round out of Western Michigan in 2005, and he made his big league debut in 2008 at age 25.

Rosales drew the spotlight last season by sprinting around the bases after each of his four homers. It wasn’t a ploy for attention — Rosales said he’s done the same thing since he was 12.

“The first time I hit one out of the park, I jogged around the bases and it felt really awkward,” he said. “It felt like it took too much time.”

Reds right-hander Jared Burton said he recalls his former teammate taking a bat and hitting baseballs into the corners of the outfield, then running to retrieve them. That’s one way Rosales got his conditioning in.

“He’s one of those guys, if he plays the game for 15 years, he’ll still be like a kid,” Burton said. “He appreciates every chance he gets out there.”

Sometimes Rosales’ up-tempo style gets the best of him.

“The biggest thing with Adam is he gets out of control at times,” A’s second baseman Mark Ellis said. “But he’s gotten so much better since camp started. He plays very hard. He doesn’t say a whole lot. He’s just going about his business.”

He could start the season in the minor leagues if he doesn’t beat out Pennington at shortstop. Jake Fox and Eric Patterson are also fighting to make the team as utility men, and both are out of options.

“Once you start worrying about (making the team), you start pressing,” Rosales said. “You’ve just got to keep the fun in it or else you’re going to get yourself in trouble.”

Notes: The A’s were off Tuesday, but Brett Anderson threw five innings in a simulated game against minor leaguers. Anderson looked sharp, allowing hardly any solid contact during an 82-pitch outing. He said he felt no effects from a stiff neck that kept him from pitching Monday. “… Gio Gonzalez will pitch tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Trevor Cahill, as both battle for the fifth starter spot. The 7:35 game will be televised on CSNCA. Thursday’s 7:05 p.m. game against the Giants will air on CSNBA.