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Athletics-Royals Preview

Sep 13, 2010 - 1:48 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Oakland (71-70) at Kansas City (58-83), 3:10 p.m. EDT

The Oakland Athletics missed an opportunity to close their homestand with a three-game sweep, but facing the Kansas City Royals provides an excellent chance to get their road trip off to a good start.

The Athletics look to win their fifth straight at Kauffman Stadium when they begin a three-game series against the Royals on Monday.

Oakland (71-71) is embarking on a six-game road trip after a 6-3 homestand. It won its first two against Boston over the weekend, then led 3-0 through five innings Sunday before losing 5-3.

The Athletics are 5-1 against Kansas City (58-84) this season, including a three-game sweep at Kauffman Stadium from July 16-18. They've scored 41 runs in their last six games in Kansas City.

For the series opener, Oakland will hand the ball to rookie Bobby Cramer, who takes the spot in the rotation left after the struggling Vin Mazzaro was sent to pitch in the Triple-A playoffs.

Cramer is making his major league debut. The 30-year-old left-hander began the year in the Oakland organization before being loaned to Quintana Roo of the Mexican League on March 16. He led the Mexican League in wins, going 13-3 with a 2.95 ERA in 22 games - 20 starts - and allowed opponents to bat .244.

"He's traveled all over the place to get here and he's been through a lot of stuff emotionally in his playing days," manager Bob Geren told the Athletics' official website. "I think this will be a fun step for him."

The Royals will try to make Cramer's debut a rough one after totaling 14 runs and 32 hits in their last two games.

Kansas City fell to 2-8 this month after dropping two of three at Chicago over the weekend, losing 12-6 Sunday despite scoring six runs in the top of the first.

Billy Butler had three hits including a double and a home run to raise his average to .312, but manager Ned Yost said after playing back-to-back series against playoff hopefuls Minnesota and Chicago, he may rest some of his starters this week.

"The fans will say, 'Why don't you (play your starters) every day.' When you're a championship-level team, do you. We're trying to get to that level," he told the Royals official website.

Luke Hochevar (5-4, 5.11) will take the ball Monday, making his first start since coming off the disabled list Sept. 3.

Hochevar, who had been sidelined with a right elbow strain since early June, pitched three innings of relief against Minnesota on Tuesday, allowing three runs and five hits, including a home run.

The right-hander is 0-4 with an 11.37 ERA in four starts against the Athletics, but hasn't faced them this season.

Kansas City is 11-23 against teams from the AL West.