Oakland @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 2, 2010 ) Oakland 3, Cleveland 0
If it seems like it's been a long time since Dallas Braden pitched his perfect game, there's a good reason.
That's because it has been a long time. Braden's perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays was on May 8 and it's going to be even longer before he gets a chance to climb back on the mound.
Braden was scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday against the Cleveland Indians.
The Oakland Athletics left-hander has a sore elbow, which also forced him to miss Tuesday's start against the Baltimore Orioles. It was hoped a few extra days of rest would help Braden, but after he threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session Thursday, the decision was made to skip his turn again.
It's not known when Braden will pitch again or if he'll go on the disabled list. He is 0-5 in eight starts since making history,
Saturday's start will go to right-hander Clayton Mortensen, who is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Sacramento. Mortensen couldn't do much better in the minors, going 10-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 15 starts. His win total leads the Pacific Coast League and he's also second in innings pitched (98) and third in strikeouts (77).
Mortensen was acquired in the deal that sent outfielder Matt Holliday to St. Louis last July and picked up some major league experience in 2009. He made one relief appearance with the St. Louis Cardinals before the trade and had six starts with the A's. He's 2-4 with a 7.63 ERA in his career.
Mortensen was scheduled to start Thursday for Sacramento, but was scratched because the A's didn't know if Braden would be able to go.
Oakland snapped Cleveland's season-high five-game winning streak Friday with a 3-0 victory - the A's sixth win in seven games. Gio Gonzalez pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings and the A's used an unusual play to stop an Indians' rally in the sixth.
Catcher Mike Redmond hit what appeared to be a run-scoring single with two outs when he lined a ball that fell in right field. Outfielder Ryan Sweeney, who was playing shallow, threw him out at first. Jhonny Peralta crossed the plate before the out was recorded, but the play goes in the books as a groundout to the right fielder.
Jake Westbrook makes his 17th start for the Indians. The right-hander is 5-2 with a 4.18 ERA in his last 10 starts. Westbrook lost his only start to Oakland this season, giving up four runs and eight hits in five innings in a 10-0 defeat in April.
Cleveland right fielder Shin-Soo Choo was removed from Friday's game after injuring his right hand attempting to make a diving catch in the eighth inning. The extent of the injury could be known by Saturday afternoon.