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Athletics-Indians Preview

Jul 4, 2009 - 4:00 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Oakland (33-44) at Cleveland (31-49), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Cleveland Indians might not be playing with much confidence these days. Facing the Oakland Athletics could change that - at least for a short time.

Coming off one of their most productive offensive games of the season, the Indians look for a sixth straight victory over the visiting A's on Saturday night.

Shin-Soo Choo had four hits, including two homers, and drove in seven as Cleveland (32-49) snapped a five-game losing streak with a 15-3 win in Friday's opener. It was the most runs scored by the Indians since a 22-4 victory at Yankee Stadium on April 18, and just their fourth triumph in 18 games since last winning two in a row on June 11-12.

Owners of the worst record in the AL, the Indians hit .195 and scored 13 runs during their skid.

"Cleveland hasn't been swinging the bats that great lately," said Oakland manager Bob Geren, whose team gave up 10 runs in its previous four games. "We've been throwing the ball pretty well. It happens. It's one game."

Facing Oakland (33-45), last in the AL West, gives Cleveland a chance to secure its first winning series since taking two of three versus St. Louis from June 12-14. The Indians won the last four matchups with the A's last year and are 10-4 against them at Progressive Field since the beginning of the 2007 season.

Choo's seven RBIs were the most by a Cleveland player since Grady Sizemore did the same on Aug. 21 versus Kansas City. Batting .301, Choo is 7 for 15 (.467) with three homers and nine RBIs in his last four contests.

The Indians won despite star Victor Martinez going 0 for 5. The veteran catcher is mired in a 4-for-42 (.095) slump.

Looking for another big night at the plate, Cleveland might be in for a challenge against talented Oakland rookie Vin Mazzaro (2-3, 2.95 ERA), who's lost his last three decisions.

The 22-year-old right-hander allowed three runs and five hits while striking out eight and walking four in five innings of a 3-1 loss to Colorado on Sunday. Despite his record, Mazzaro has not allowed more than four runs in any of his six starts this season.

"I thought he did a pretty good job," Geren said. "He's one of the best young pitchers in the league."

Cleveland hopes Carl Pavano (6-7, 5.56) can avoid a fourth consecutive loss.

After allowing 18 earned runs in 13 1-3 innings of his previous three starts, Pavano gave up two with five hits while striking out six in seven innings of a 6-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Monday.

"I felt better than I did the last couple outings," Pavano told the Indians' official Web site.

The right-hander, who's been bothered by a stiff neck and sore right shoulder, faces the A's for the first time since May 6, 2005, when he gave up three runs in seven innings while with the New York Yankees in his only previous start versus them.

Nomar Garciaparra had two hits and an RBI on Friday for Oakland, which opened a nine-game road trip with its seventh loss in nine contests. Garciaparra is batting .373 with 51 RBIs in 61 games against the Indians.