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Kansas City, MO - Alex Gordon went 3-for-4 with a home run and three runs scored as Kansas City cooled down New York with a 7-0 victory to avoid a four-game sweep at Kauffman Stadium.

Kansas City starter Jorge De La Rosa (8-10) pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings while scattering six hits. He also struck out five and walked two while Zack Greinke and Joakim Soria kept the Yankees off the board to keep the shutout intact.

Tony Pena finished 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored for the Royals, who won for just the second time in their last six games.

Kei Igawa (2-3) started for New York and was charged with five runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 frames. Melky Cabrera and Jose Molina each had two hits for the Yankees, who had a six-game winning streak snapped. Alex Rodriguez went 0- for-2 with a walk and was hit by a pitch to remain at 499 career home runs.

The Yankees now trail Boston, which defeated Cleveland on Thursday, by 7 1/2 games.

Kansas City plated four runs in the second inning to take the early lead. Gordon doubled with one out and scored on Pena’s three-base hit to deep center. Jason LaRue then struck out and Esteban German worked a walk before David DeJesus doubled home a pair of runs. Mark Grudzielanek then tripled home DeJesus to make it 4-0.

The Yankees threatened in the sixth with two runners on, but Greinke came into the game and got Molina to ground into an inning-ending double play.

The Royals added a run in the home half of the sixth to make it 5-0. With two outs, Gordon tripled and scored on Pena’s two-base hit to the gap in right- center field.

Kansas City made it a six-run advantage in the seventh as Billy Butler doubled home DeJesus, who was hit by a pitch from Sean Henn.

Gordon led off the bottom of the eighth with deep home run to center field to make it 7-0.

Game Notes

The Royals defeated the Yankees for just the third time in the last 16 encounters…Kansas City had 10 hits while the Yanks had six…New York went 0-for-12 at the plate with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base while KC hit 5-of-13 with RISP…Prior to the game, Kansas City purchased the contract of pitcher Jason Shiell from Triple-A Omaha.

Cleveland, OH - Manny Ramirez finished 3-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI and scored four times as Boston topped Cleveland in a slugfest, 14-9, in the finale of a four-game set at Jacobs Field.

Wily Mo Pena was 4-for-5 with a homer, four RBI and two runs scored for the Red Sox, who have won six of seven and lead the AL East by 7 1/2 games over the Yankees. Mike Lowell was 3-for-5 with a pair of runs driven in, Jason Varitek collected two hits and two RBI, Coco Crisp had two hits and scored twice while Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz also scored twice each.

Julian Tavarez (6-8) got the win in 2 1/3 frames of relief despite allowing two hits and four runs. Starter Kason Gabbard was charged with four hits and five runs over 4 2/3 innings with three walks and three strikeouts.

Cliff Lee (5-8) took the loss and was rocked for nine hits and eight runs — seven earned — in four-plus innings. He is 0-4 with an 11.71 ERA in his last four outings. Ryan Garko and Franklin Gutierrez homered for the Indians, who have lost four of six including three of four in the series. Travis Hafner also knocked in two runs in defeat.

Down by eight, Cleveland showed some life in the home half of the fifth. Josh Barfield’s two-out, two-run double brought Cleveland within 9-3, and Grady Sizemore followed with a run-scoring single. Casey Blake and Victor Martinez drew walks to load the bases, and Gabbard plunked Hafner to force in a run. Tavarez relieved the embattled youngster and got Garko to fly to center which kept Boston’s lead at four.

Varitek and Crisp hit consecutive one-out singles in the seventh and reliever Jason Stanford gave way to Tom Mastny. Pena greeted him with a first-pitch three-run homer to put the Sox up 12-5, but Julio Lugo flew out and Dustin Pedroia fanned to end the frame.

The Indians kept coming with four in the bottom of the inning on Hafner’s RBI single and Garko’s three-run homer to make it 12-9, but Ramirez lofted his second blast of the night, a two-run shot, off Jensen Lewis in the eighth for a 14-9 score.

Hideki Okajima restored order and blanked the Tribe in the eighth, and Javier Lopez finished the game with a scoreless ninth.

After a thiry minute rain delay, the Sox broke through when Ramirez led off the second by dropping a Lee offering deep beyond the fence in dead center for his 16th homer of the season.

In the third, Pedroia hit into a double play but Pena, who began the inning with a single, scored to make it 2-0, then Gutierrez answered with his second homer in as many nights to bring the Tribe within 2-1.

The Sox loaded the bases in the fourth on back-to-back walks to Ramirez and Youkilis plus a single by Lowell. Varitek singled through the hole to score a pair, but further damage was limited as Crisp, Pena and Lugo were retired in order to end the inning.

Boston tacked on five more runs in the fifth. Pedroia led off with a single, went to second when Ortiz walked, and scored on a Ramirez double. Jhonny Peralta booted a Youkilis grounder and the bases were loaded, then Lowell laced a two-run single to right which put the Sox up 7-1 and spelled the end for Lee.

Stanford entered and induced a double-play ball off Varitek’s bat, but allowed a double to Youkilis and an RBI single by Crisp. Pena rapped a double off the wall in right-center to bring in another run for a 9-1 lead.

Game Notes

Lugo extended his hit streak to 15 games…Ramirez’s second-inning homer was estimated at 481 feet. He now has 49 career multi-homer games…Hafner snapped an 0-for-21 slump with his seventh-inning single…Sox right-hander Curt Schilling made his second rehab start, pitching for Boston’s Triple-A club Pawtucket against Toledo…Boston also signed outfielder Brady Clark to a minor-league deal, landing the 34-year-old with Pawtucket. Clark was released by the Dodgers on June 18…Cleveland continues its 10-game homestand by welcoming the Twins on Friday, while Boston heads to Tampa for a three-game set Friday.

Houston, TX - Carlos Lee, Morgan Ensberg and Craig Biggio hit home runs and Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven solid innings as the Houston Astros disposed of the San Diego Padres, 7-1, in the opener of a four-game series at Minute Maid Park.

Rodriguez (7-9) yielded just one run on five hits while walking two and striking out five.

Lance Berkman finished with two hits and two runs scored for the Astros, who have won three straight.

Brian Giles had two hits and scored a run for the slumping Padres, who have lost six of seven.

San Diego starter David Wells (5-7) was tagged for seven runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and a season-high four walks in just three innings of work.

Mike Cameron’s double to left in the top first scored Giles who led-off with a single.

Houston, though, scored three times in the bottom half. Berkman doubled to center before Lee drilled his 21st homer of the year, a shot to left. Ensberg followed with a homer, his eighth of the season.

Biggio legged out an infield single with one out in the second and Mark Loretta followed with a base hit to left. Biggio then stole third and scored when Berkman smacked a ground-rule double to left.

Wells then gave Lee a free pass, loading the bases for Ensberg, who walked to force home another run and give Houston a 6-1 advantage.

Biggio belted his seventh homer of the year in the third, a bomb to left.

Game Notes

Rodriguez improved to 6-2 with a 1.75 ERA at home. He is 1-7 with a 7.43 ERA on the road…Wells has surrendered 14 earned runs in his last two starts…Brad Ausmus and Luke Scott also hit back-to-back homers for Houston on June 26th at Milwaukee…Houston has won 13 of its last 18 at home…Lefty Joe Thatcher, who came over in the trade that sent reliever Scott Linebrink from San Diego to Milwaukee on Wednesday, made his major league debut and pitched a perfect inning…Clay Hensley, who was called up from Triple-A Portland on Wednesday, pitched three scoreless innings of relief for San Diego…Attendance was 33,718.

San Francisco, CA - Dave Roberts was 3-for-5 and drove in a pair of runs as San Francisco doubled up Atlanta, 4-2, in the finale of a four-game set at AT&T Park.

Barry Bonds went 1-for-4 with a double before leaving for a pinch-runner in the seventh, and remained at 753 career homers, two shy of Hank Aaron’s all- time mark. Bonds hasn’t homered since smacking a pair of long balls last Thursday against the Cubs.

Ray Durham and Omar Vizquel drove in a run apiece for the Giants, who won the last two games in the series.

Tim Lincecum (6-2) allowed just two runs on six hits in six innings of work en route to the win. The rookie phenom walked two and fanned five. Kevin Correia, Jack Taschner, Vinnie Chulk and Brad Hennessey combined for three innings of scoreless relief to end things. Hennessey earned his eighth save on the year.

Jeff Francoeur was 1-for-4 with a two-run home run for the Braves, who remained four games behind the New York Mets in the NL East.

Buddy Carlyle (5-3) surrendered four runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings to pick up the loss for Atlanta.

Down 2-0, the Giants bounced back to take the lead for good in the fifth. Pedro Feliz doubled to left and moved to third on Vizquel’s infield single. After Lincecum moved Vizquel to second with a sacrifice bunt, Roberts’ two- bagger cleared the bases to even the game. Randy Winn kept things going with a walk before Durham capped the frame with an RBI single up the middle to give San Francisco a 3-2 advantage.

The Giants added an insurance run in the sixth. Ryan Klesko doubled and moved to third on Feliz’s ground ball. Bengie Molina then fanned but Vizquel slapped a two-out, run-scoring double.

The Giants pen took over from there and closed things out.

The Braves went on top in the fourth when Francoeur blasted his 11th home run on the season, a two-run shot. Andruw Jones led off the frame with a double and, a batter later, Francoeur drilled a Lincecum pitch way over the wall in left.

Game Notes

Bonds is running out of chances to break the record in front of the home folks. The Giants now welcome Florida for a three-game set before heading back on the road…Carlyle has never faced Bonds before Thursday…This series was the first of 2007 between the two clubs. The Giants won four of seven games against the Braves last year, including three of four at home.

Philadelphia, PA - Jesus Flores’ three-run home run in the eighth inning lifted the Washington Nationals over the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-6, to close out a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

Felipe Lopez ended 2-for-5 with two RBI and scored a run for the Nationals, who have won three of their last five. Dmitri Young ended 2-for-4 and drove in a run in the win.

Howard homered for the Phillies, who had a five-game winning streak snapped. Pat Burrell ended 3-for-4 with two RBI in the loss. Utley finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored twice.

Former first-round draft choice Adam Eaton, looking to reach double-digits in wins for the third time in his career, allowed four runs on eight hits with two strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.

Trailing 5-4, Washington got the go-ahead runs in the eighth. Young reached on a forceout and got replaced by pinch-runner Robert Fick on the basepaths. Austin Kearns next walked, and reliever Mike Zagurski came on in relief of Jose Mesa (1-3). He got Ryan Church to fly out, but Flores belted a three-run homer to left field on the first pitch he saw for the eventual game- winner.

Philly started to rally in the ninth. Rowand and Michael Bourn singled. Bourn then stole second, and Rowand came home on a Chris Coste groundout. Carlos Ruiz walked, but Abraham Nunez grounded out to end the game.

Washington plated two runs in the first when Lopez and Ronnie Belliard led off with singles before Young and Kearns both laced RBI singles.

Philly answered with a run in the home half, as Jimmy Rollins grounded a lead- off single, Shane Victorino walked, and Utley singled him home.

The Phillies scored a pair of runs in the third. Utley singled followed by Howard’s two-run shot to center field on a full count.

Philadelphia added two more runs in the fifth sparked by an abrupt exit by Lannan. After hitting Utley on the right wrist and then Howard on the torso, Lannan got ejected by home-plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt, who eventually tossed manager Manny Acta for arguing. Chris Schroder replaced him on the mound, but an error by Ryan Zimmerman allowed Rowand to reach safely, loading the bases for Burrell, who singled home two runs.

Washington scored two runs in the seventh. Flores singled, Nook Logan doubled, and Lopez singled home both baserunners.

Game Notes

Mesa made his 1,000th career appearance to become the 11th pitcher to reach the milestone. He became the third pitcher on that list to do so as a Phillie, as Kent Tekulve reached the mark in 1988 and Dan Plesac in 2002…Washington optioned pitcher Chris Booker to Triple-A Columbus prior to the game…The Phils have won five of their eight matchups with the Nationals this season, including four of six in Philly.

Chicago, IL - Zach Miner’s throwing error on a sacrifice bunt allowed Scott Podsednik to score the winning run from first, giving the Chicago White Sox a 4-3 win over the Detroit Tigers, taking three out of a rare five-game set.

Podsednik finished 2-for-4 with an RBI for the White Sox, who had dropped four straight entering this five-game set. John Danks scattered six hits and three runs over 6 2/3 innings, but it was Bobby Jenks (3-4) who got the win for tossing the scoreless ninth.

Omar Infante homered for the Tigers, who have dropped five of eight. Justin Verlander held the Sox to three hits and three runs over seven-plus innings. Miner (1-3) took the loss for the Tigers.

The trouble started for Miner and the Tigers right off the bat in the ninth, with Podsednik singling to left. Josh Fields then laid down a sacrifice bunt back to Miner, who bobbled the ball before air-mailing the throw into foul territory in right field. Podsednik chugged all the way around on the play and beat the throw to the plate, giving the White Sox the win.

Infante’s solo shot to left, his second of the season, with two outs in the third gave the Tigers the early lead.

AJ Pierzynski poked a one-out single to right in the fourth and, after Jermaine Dye walked, came home on Podsednik’s double to left. Fields then plated the go-ahead run with a groundout to first.

The Tigers took the lead back with two runs in the sixth. Infante led off with a walk, moved over on Curtis Granderson’s sacrifice bunt, and came home on Placido Polanco’s single to right. Mike Hessman’s single to left with two outs drove in Polanco, and put the Tigers on top.

The White Sox had a chance to go on top in the eighth when they loaded the bases on a Tadahito Iguchi single to center and walks to Jim Thome and Paul Konerko, all with no outs, but Pierzynski grounded into a double play. One run did come home, tying the game, but Jermaine Dye grounded out to end the threat.

Game Notes

Chicago’s Jerry Owens went 0-for-3, ending his 10-game hitting streak…The Tigers fell to 22-8 in games started by left-handed pitchers…Attendance was 30,567.

Baltimore, MD - Brian Roberts’ three-run home run in the home half of the eighth inning slammed the door on a Tampa comeback, as the Orioles completed a home sweep of the last place Devil Rays with a 10-7 win.

Roberts’ blast capped a four-run eighth, extending what was a one-run lead to 10-5, and making a winner of Baltimore reliever Rob Bell (3-1). Bell induced a key inning-ending double play ball in the fifth when he spelled starter Steve Trachsel and thwarted a Rays’ rally. For the afternoon, Bell worked a perfect inning and a third.

The Devil Rays picked up two ninth inning runs on an Akinori Iwamura sacrifice fly and a Greg Norton RBI single.

Baltimore raced out to an early 6-2 lead with a five-run third inning keyed by a Paul Bako double and a soft infield single by shortstop Brandon Fahey. After Rays’ starter Edwin Jackson (2-10) walked Roberts and Corey Patterson flied to center, Nick Markakis knocked home a pair of runs with a single to right- center and advanced to second on an errant throw from centerfielder B.J. Upton. Kevin Millar then banged a ground-rule double over the fence in left, plating Roberts and Markakis. Chris Gomez capped the inning’s scoring with a looping single to right that brought home Millar.

Trachsel, though, gave a run back immediately when he served up a home run to Ty Wigginton in the fourth.

The O’s chased Jackson from the game in the bottom of the frame but were unable to score, allowing Tampa to climb back in it with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. RBI singles by Upton and Delmon Young brought the Rays within one, and Trachsel was lifted one out shy of becoming the pitcher of record.

Bell inherited a pair of runners with two outs and Wigginton at the plate, and escaped the inning when third baseman Chris Gomez ranged to his left on a ground ball to force Young at second.

Jamie Walker, Paul Shuey and Cory Doyne pitched an inning apiece to preserve the win, although Tampa touched Doyne for two earned runs on two hits in the ninth.

The win was the Orioles’ eighth in nine tries against the Devil Rays this season, and their fourth in a row overall. Tampa Bay has now dropped six straight, and heads home a season-worst 25 games under .500.

Game Notes

Upton left the game in the seventh with an apparent leg injury and was replaced by Norton…Millar and Markakis each went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI…Gomez and Fahey had two hits apiece…Seven different Devil Rays knocked in a run…Carlos Pena hit his team-leading 24th home run off Trachsel in the top of the second…Pena’s HR was just the fifth surrendered by Trachsel to a left-handed hitter this season…Carl Crawford stole his American League- leading 32nd base, but was also caught stealing in the 5th…Tampa Bay returns home after going 1-6 on the road trip and being outscored 64-20…Baltimore has won five of six.

Cincinnati, OH - Ken Griffey Jr. belted career home run number 588, but Javier Valentin was the hero for Cincinnati, with an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th that gave the Reds a 6-5 comeback win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Adam Dunn led off the 10th with a double to center, moved up on Edwin Encarnacion’s single to left, and came home when Valentin grounded sharply into right for the win, as the Reds took three of four from the Brewers.

Griffey finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs. Bobby Livingston started and lasted six innings for the Reds, giving up five hits and three runs with a strikeout and a walk. Jared Burton (2-1) pitched one scoreless inning.

Milwaukee starter Dave Bush also earned a no-decision, giving up seven hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings, fanning four and walking three. Francisco Cordero (0-3) allowed the game-tying run in the ninth, and game-winner in the 10th. Ryn Braun and Tony Graffanino each homered for the Brewers, who have dropped five of seven.

Griffey gave the Reds the early lead by belting his 25th homer of the season to right-center, a solo shot with two outs in the first. The future Hall-of- Famer doubled the Cincinnati lead in the third when, after Scott Hatteberg hit a leadoff triple to right, Griffey roped a one-out double to right.

The Brewers knotted the game with two runs in the fourth. JJ Hardy led off with a double to left, moved up on a wild pitch, and came home on Braun’s single to center. The Brewers loaded the bases with one out later in the inning, but only plated one more run, on a Graffanino groundout.

Griffey started a two-out rally in the fifth with a single to center, and Bush walked the next two batters, loading the bases. Jeff Keppinger plated two runs with a single to left, putting the Reds on top, 4-2.

Braun got one of those runs back right away, leading off the sixth with his 17th homer of the season. Graffanino then tied things with a leadoff blast of his own, his ninth homer of the season, to start the seventh.

Bill Hall led off the eighth with a double to right, and Hart’s one-out single to center plated the go-ahead run for the Brewers. The Reds were able to tie things in their last at-bat, though, with pinch-hitter Norris Hopper doubling to right to lead things off against Cordero, and Hatteberg singling him in. Cordero was able to bear down and retire the next three batters, sending the game to extra innings.

Game Notes

Prior to the game, the Reds placed shortstop Pedro Lopez on the 15-day disabled list with a broken left cheekbone. Lopez was carted off the field in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s 7-3 victory over Milwaukee after being hit in the face by a Matt Wise pitch. To fill the roster spot, the Reds reinstated infielder Juan Castro from the 15-day DL…The Reds took a 76-75-1 lead in the overall series between the teams.

By Chris Rahill

The Oakland Athletics are doing everything they can to avoid elimination in the American League West.

The A’s recently took two of three games from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but still trail the Angels by 10 1/2 games. Oakland has been awful since the break, losing nine of the last 13 games. The writing is on the wall in Oakland and if the A’s cannot win this weekend’s series against the Seattle Mariners, their season is most likely over. Some would argue that Oakland is already making plans for the offseason, as it made some big name trades and is rumored to be interested in dumping a few more salaries before the deadline.

However, amid all the rumors and speculation the biggest problem this season has been Oakland’s inability to stay healthy. The team has been plagued by injuries and could be riding on fumes the rest of the way. Oakland did show a small sign of life this week, taking two straight from the Angels only to drop the series finale. The A’s began the week with a 12-6 win over Anaheim on Monday night. Starter Chad Gaudin had a rough outing, surrendering five runs on six hits through just 3 2/3 innings. However, the A’s bullpen came through in the clutch, holding the Angels to just one run over the final 8 1/3 innings. Joe Kennedy was eventually granted the win after tossing a scoreless seventh and eighth inning. Oakland gave its bullpen plenty of support, hammering 13 hits in the win. DH Mike Piazza led the way, going 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI.

Tuesday night’s game brought more of the same for Oakland, as it outlasted the Angels 4-3. Southpaw Lenny DiNardo was solid in the start, holding the Angels to just one run on three hits through 6 2/3 innings. The A’s bullpen ran into some troubles in the seventh, but came out on top as reliever Alan Embree recorded his 11th save of the season. The A’s put together another big performance at the plate, tallying 11 hits in the win as Travis Buck went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI.

The A’s could not complete the sweep on Wednesday afternoon, losing to the Angels 7-6. The A’s mounted a comeback in the ninth, but were unable to recover from the poor showing of starter Joe Blanton. The right-hander was knocked around in the loss, allowing five runs on 11 hits through six innings.

Following the game Blanton discussed the teams attitude heading into this weekend’s very important series with the Seattle Mariners.

“We just need to go out and keep having fun,” said Blanton. “Have fun with [the Seattle series]. When you have fun, you play a lot more loose, more relaxed.”

KIELTY LATEST TO BE RUMORED IN TRADE

Outfielder Bobby Kielty may have played his last game in Oakland. On Monday afternoon Kielty was designated for a minor league assignment in order to clear a roster spot for closer Huston Street. Kielty’s designation will most likely result in a trade before the July 31st deadline.

Kielty has sparked the interest of a few AL contenders hoping to add another veteran before the postseason. The outfielder, who is batting just .200 on the season, has missed most of the year with injuries. He has played in just 13 games thus far, but seems to be back at full strength.

The trade rumors surrounding Kielty are just another sign of the A’s focus on the offseason. The team’s recent trades of outfielder Milton Bradley and catcher Jason Kendall were made in an attempt to unload some salary before both players reached free agency at the end of the season. Kielty is another player who will become a free agent at the end of the year. At this point the A’s seem more than willing to unload a portion of Kielty’s $2.1 million salary. By dealing the outfielder now, Oakland can save some money and perhaps add another player with value.

Kielty understands the business side of baseball and is excited about a possibility of being sent to a contender.

“Honestly, I’m not disappointed at all,” he said. “I had a good time in Oakland. Going to the playoffs and everything was a lot of fun, and the guys in the clubhouse are great. But I’ve been here 3 1/2 years, I’m going to be a free agent next year, and they’re going in a different direction. It’s time that I move on and they move on. That’s just the way the game works.

PIAZZA RETURNS TO LINEUP

DH Mike Piazza returned to the A’s lineup on Monday after missing most of the season with a sprained right shoulder. Piazza suffered the injury on May 2nd and was only expected to miss five-to-six weeks. However, five weeks turned into three months and Piazza is finally able to give the A’s the bat they have been lacking in their lineup.

The future Hall of Famer signed with Oakland as a DH to fill the spot of the departed Frank Thomas. Piazza did just that before his injury, batting .282 with eight RBI in just 26 games. However, since his injury things have changed in the Oakland locker room. For starters the A’s asked Piazza to work some catching drills into his rehabilitation in hopes of using the veteran as a backup to then catcher Jason Kendall. Piazza tried to get back into catching shape during his time on the DL, but was unable to build the necessary arm strength. Even though Piazza told the A’s he would be unable to catch, the club decided to part ways with Kendall and are now playing rookie Kurt Suzuki.

Although he is expected to be used mainly as a DH, Piazza may also be asked to play some outfield to help fill the hole left by the departure of Kendall. There has been some speculation about a possible trade for Piazza, but at this time his $8.6 million dollar contract and health issues make him a high risk player for any team. Piazza is aware of the A’s position right now and knows that he could be traded at any time. However, the veteran is not bothered by the rumors surrounding his future.

“You know what? I’ve been through so many seasons and heard so many things,” said Piazza. “I look at it as, until something actually transpires, it’s not really advantageous to even think about it.”

Since his return Piazza has gone 8-for-21 with two home runs and seven RBI in just five games.

INJURY NEWS

Shortstop Bobby Crosby was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday after X-rays revealed numerous fractures in his left hand. Crosby injured the hand when he was hit by a pitch during Tuesday night’s win over the Angels. This injury is the latest in a series of health problems that have plagued the 2004 AL Rookie of the Year. Crosby has missed considerable time over the past two seasons and will be making his first trip to the DL in 2007.

Crosby is expected to miss at least four-to-six weeks with the injury, but should be able to return before the end of the season. Manager Bob Geren played down Crosby’s injury problems, blaming the latest setback on bad luck.

“What can you do?” Geren said Wednesday. “He got hit with a 90-mph fastball on the back of the hand. It’s just an unfortunate part of the game. … Bobby’s not injury prone. He’s just had some really bad luck. I feel terrible for the guy. He’s a great kid.”

WHO’S HOT

Despite the A’s struggles, leadoff man Shannon Stewart continues to put up big numbers. He has gone 12-for-37 at the plate over his last 10 games, including three straight multi-hit performances against the Angels. The outfielder has remained consistent all season, posting a .308 batting average with seven home runs and 30 RBI.

WHO’S NOT

Joe Blanton has been awful during the month of July, going 1-3 in five starts. He has allowed 10 or more hits in each of his last four starts and has just nine strikeouts in the last 25 2/3 innings. On the season Blanton posts a respectable 8-7 record with a 3.69 ERA.

ON DECK

The A’s will travel to Seattle this weekend for a four-game set against the Mariners. Dan Haren (11-3, 2.41) will take on Jeff Weaver (2-8, 6.19) in Thursday night’s opener. Friday night’s contest will be a showdown between Dallas Braden (1-5, 5.15) and Felix Hernandez (6-6, 4.02). Game three will take place on Saturday afternoon and feature Gaudin (8-5, 3.66) and Horacio Ramirez (5-3, 6.75). Sunday’s finale will be headlined by Dinardo (5-6, 2.41) and Jarrod Washburn (8-7, 4.05)

Final Score: Pittsburgh 8, New York 4

Flushing, NY - Josh Phelps’ two-run home run capped a five- run sixth inning, as the Pittsburgh Pirates pounded the New York Mets, 8-4, to avoid a three-game sweep at Shea Stadium.

Xavier Nady finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and scored a run for Pittsburgh, which had lost 10 of 11 coming into the contest. Nate McLouth went 2-for-4 and scored a run in the win.

Lefty Paul Maholm (7-12), who also picked up the win in his last start on Saturday against Houston, allowed three runs on six hits with three strikeouts and a walk over six-plus innings for Pittsburgh.

Mets starter Oliver Perez (9-7), facing his former team for the first time since being dealt at last year’s trade deadline, allowed five unearned runs on five hits with nine strikeouts and a walk over six innings.

Lastings Milledge and Jose Reyes both homered for the Mets, who snapped a three-game winning streak. Damion Easley ended 2-for-4 and scored a run in the loss.

Trailing 1-0, Pittsburgh put up five runs in the sixth. McLouth and Maholm led off with singles. Cesar Izturis then laid down a bunt but got all the way to second after a throwing error by Perez as McLouth scored. After a pair of popouts, Nady singled in two runs before Phelps’ two-run shot to left-center field on a 2-2 pitch.

The Mets answered with a run in the home half on Milledge’s solo shot to left field on a 2-1 pitch.

The Bucs got three more runs in the seventh, off reliever Scott Schoeneweis, who struck out McLouth and Maholm swinging but scattered singles to Izturis and Freddy Sanchez. Joe Smith came on the mound, and allowed RBI singles to Jason Bay and Nady before a Phelps RBI double.

The Mets put up another run in the home half, as Easley and Ramon Castro led off with singles before Ruben Gotay was able to bring home Easley on a sac fly.

New York plated a run in the eighth off reliever Shawn Chacon, who surrendered a homer to right field by Reyes on his third pitch.

New York scored a run in the first when Reyes lined a lead-off single, stole second, got to third on a Milledge groundout, and came home on Wright’s sacrifice fly.

Game Notes

Perez was shipped to the Mets along with reliever Roberto Hernandez for Nady last July 31 after a disappointing 2006 with the Bucs. After striking out 239 batters in 2004 with the Pirates, Perez struggled and was just 2-10 with a 6.63 earned run average last season before the trade…New York centerfielder Carlos Beltran, strained a muscle in his abdomen during batting practice earlier in the week and missed Wednesday and Thursday’s contests…The Mets are playing the Pirates for the first time this season, but won five of the nine matchups between them in 2006. All five of the Mets’ wins against the Bucs last season came in Flushing.