• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

RHP Blanton hopes to ease burden on bullpen

May 16, 2007 - 1:33 PM Kansas City (13-27) at Oakland (20-18) 10:05 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Joe Blanton hopes to lighten the load on the Oakland Athletics' bullpen.

Blanton will be looked upon for a strong outing as the Athletics face the Kansas City Royals in the third game of a four-game series on Wednesday.

A's closer Huston Street is on the disabled list due to nerve irritation in his right elbow, giving way to Justin Duchscherer to assume the closer role.

Blanton (4-1, 3.48 ERA) goes for his third straight win after allowing just two runs in seven innings in an 8-2 triumph over Cleveland last Friday.

The righthander has been stellar against Kansas City, going 3-1 with an impressive 1.64 ERA in five career starts. Most importantly, Blanton has not surrendered a run in 16 innings over his last two home games vs. the Royals.

On Tuesday, reigning American League Player of the Week Dan Johnson lofted the game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th to carry Oakland to a 5-4 victory.

The Royals will counter with Odalis Perez (2-4, 6.05), who hopes to avoid his third consecutive defeat. The Dominican lefthander only allowed two runs through seven frames in his last start, a 2-1 setback against the Chicago White Sox.