Indians' scoreless streak ends, but sweep A's

[May 16, 2008]  CLEVELAND (AP) -- An unearned run against Aaron Laffey caused by his own throwing error ended the scoreless streak by Cleveland Indians' starters at 44 1-3 innings but didn't interrupt their string of dominant outings.

Laffey pitched the Indians to a 4-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday, completing a three-game sweep and giving the surging Indians eight victories in 10 games.

In the rotation because of an injury to Jake Westbrook, Laffey (2-2) allowed just the unearned run and five hits in seven innings, struck out six and walked one. He lowered his ERA to 1.35 and has gone seven innings in each of his last three starts without giving up an earned run.

Cleveland's scoreless streak, which began last Friday, ended in the second when Laffey charged Rob Bowen's weak grounder and threw it into right field, allowing Bobby Crosby to score from second.

The streak was the longest by Cleveland's starters since Bob Lemon, Gene Bearden, Sam Zoldak and Satchel Paige strung together 47 scoreless innings in August 1948 -- all threw complete game shutouts.

It was the longest by a major league team in one season since a 54-inning streak by Baltimore's starters from Sept. 1-7, 1974, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Jhonny Peralta homered for the Indians, who on Wednesday moved into the AL Central lead for the first time since the opening week of the season

Oakland has lost five of six after winning four straight. The A's loaded the bases with one out in the ninth against Rafael Betancourt. Masa Kobayashi relieved and threw a run-scoring wild pitch, then struck out pinch-hitter Mike Sweeney, who pumped a fist in frustration. Kobayashi then fanned pinch-hitter Ryan Sweeney for his second save in two chances.

Rookie Greg Smith (2-3) gave up three run, seven hits and three walks in 4 2-3 innings, striking out seven. He has lost three straight decisions.

Ryan Garko's RBI double in the first was offset by the unearned run, which ended a streak of 24 scoreless innings for the A's in Cleveland.

Ben Francisco and Travis Hafner put Cleveland ahead 3-1 with RBI singles in the third, and Peralta homered in the seventh off Santiago Casilla, who shook his pitching hand and left after facing only one batter.

Notes: The Indians won the season series 5-4. ... A's 2B Mark Ellis remains day to day with a strained left hamstring. ... Hafner got his seventh career stolen base in the fifth inning. ... Thursday was the 27th anniversary of Len Barker's perfect game for Cleveland. ... The American flag flew at half-staff in recognition of National Peace Officer's Memorial Day. ... About 8,000 children from 100 schools were in attendance.

[Associated Press; By JOE MILICIA]

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