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Blanton looks to get slumping A's on track

Jul 3, 2007 - 1:28 PM Toronto (40-42) at Oakland (42-40) 10:05 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - Joe Blanton takes the hill looking to pitch the Oakland Athletics out of their recent rut against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Blanton (7-4, 3.24 ERA) has been outstanding for Oakland, allowing three runs or less in each of his last six starts.

Oakland, which has lost eight of 11, hopes that Blanton's recent hot stretch translates into a much-needed win.

In his last start Blanton, who is 2-0 with a 2.15 ERA in his last four starts, surrendered three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision against Cleveland on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Oakland will be facing an unknown commodity in Toronto rookie Jesse Litsch. Litsch (1-2, 6.62) is starting in place of the injured A.J. Burnett, who again was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sore shoulder, just three days after being activated.

Litsch, who never has faced Oakland, last pitched on May 30 and lasted just two-thirds of an inning, yielding five runs and four hits to the New York Yankees.

Toronto took the series opener on, 11-7, thanks to two homers and a career-high four hits from Vernon Wells.