(Sports Network) - The Oakland Athletics hope a return to the Bay Area will
help kick start their offense as they begin a six-game homestand with the
first of three tests versus the slumping Cleveland Indians.
The A's just finished a six-game road trip with a 2-4 mark and managed just
five runs in a three-game set with Kansas City.
Oakland did salvage the finale on Thursday behind prized rookie Dan Straily,
who worked 6 1/3 shutout innings in just his third major league start. The
Athletics also got solo home runs from Yoenis Cespedes and Coco Crisp in a 3-0
win over the Royals to avoid a sweep.
Straily (1-0) gave up just three hits while striking out two to pick up his
first career win. Jemile Weeks knocked in a run and Derek Norris scored for
the A's, who snapped a three-game skid. Grant Balfour picked up his ninth save
of the season after retiring the side in order in the ninth.
The Indians, who are currently on a nine-game trek, come into the series in
the midst of a spiral, having lost 16 of their past 20 games, including two of
three in Anaheim to the Angels.
LA's Ervin Santana pitched seven strong innings and Mike Trout hit one of two
homers off the former Fausto Carmona in his return to the majors as the Angels
posted an 8-4 victory in the rubber match Wednesday night.
Carmona, who is now known as Roberto Hernandez, played the first six years of
his career under a false identity, gave up 10 hits and eight runs -- five
earned -- over six innings.
Shin-Soo Choo clubbed a three-run homer in the eighth inning for Cleveland,
which has lost 12 of 13 overall on the road.
Hernandez was particularly ineffective in the second inning, allowing five
runs.
"Again, we won the second half of the game, but that second inning killed us,"
Indians manager Manny Acta said. "I thought Hernandez did OK. Unfortunately,
we didn't play good behind him."
Tommy Milone will take the hill for Oakland Friday with extended rest. The
young left-hander has given up at least five runs in three straight starts,
prompting the A's to skip his turn in the rotation to help battle fatigue.
Milone, who has never faced the Tribe before, was originally scheduled to
pitch last Saturday.
"It's a mental grind once you get to this time of the year," Oakland manager
Bob Melvin told the team's website. "Tommy's last few games haven't been his
best, but it really isn't about that. We've been looking to potentially do
this for a while now."
Right-hander Zach McAllister, who has never pitched against the A's, will
oppose Milone. McAllister surrendered just up two runs and three hits over a
career-high eight innings in his last start, a 5-2 victory over Boston on
Saturday.
The Indians took two of three over the Athletics in Oakland back in April.
The Sports Network