Athletics lead Indians, 3-0, through six.
Michael Brantley is available for action tonight against Oakland and is expected back in the starting lineup Wednesday after a left ankle sprain.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians' 2010 regular season. The Tribe plays host to the Oakland Athletics tonight at Progressive Field.
Pitching matchup: RHP Fausto Carmona (11-11, 4.14) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (10-8, 3.39).
In-game updates:
The Athletics led the Indians, 3-0, through six innings.
Jeff Larish hit a two-run homer in the second. The shot to center also drove in Rajai Davis, who had singled with two outs.
Coco Crisp made it 3-0 when he led off the fifth with a homer down the right-field line.
The Indians failed to cash opportunities in the second, fourth and fifth.
With two outs in the second, Matt LaPorta grounded to shortstop Cliff Pennington, who threw high to first. Andy Marte grounded to third baseman Larish, who kicked it for one error and threw wildly to first for another. The runners advanced to second and third. Trevor Crowe struck out.
With two outs and runners on first and second in the fourth, Andy Marte singled to right. Gabe Gross picked the ball cleanly and made a strong throw to the plate, forcing Tribe third-base coach Steve Smith to hold Shelley Duncan. If Smith had sent Duncan, it would have been an easy out. Crowe grounded into a fielder's choice.
With two outs and runners on first and second in the fifth, Shelley Duncan struck out looking.
Gonzalez gave up four hits.
Carmona, who has been struggling, allowed eight hits.
Pregame notes: Center fielder Michael Brantley, who injured his left ankle during a game against Kansas City last Thursday, is close to returning to the lineup. He went through agility drills and took batting practice Tuesday.
"If everything goes well, he could be available off the bench (Tuesday) and for sure will start (Wednesday),'' Indians manager Manny Acta said.
Brantley has hit in six of his last seven games, going 11-for-20 to raise his season's average to .212 in 38 games.
• Chris Antonetti said he likely will take over as Tribe general manager officially on Nov. 1. Mark Shapiro will become club president.
Antonetti met with reporters Tuesday afternoon. He said that, as of late August, all signs point to injured core players Grady Sizemore and Carlos Santana being ready for Opening Day 2011.
Antonetti said right-hander Alex White, the Indians' first-round pick in 2009, "has given us every reason to believe he'll be an effective major-league starter.''
White is pitching for Class AA Akron, where he is 7-7 with a 2.44 ERA in 17 games (16 starts).
• The Indians have been shut out 10 times.
• Reliever Justin Germano has not allowed an earned run in 12 2/3 innings of his nine appearances.
• Based on the number of people in Progressive Field as of 6 p.m., the Indians and Athletics are going to play in front of family and friends.
Lineups:
Athletics (61-62) -- 1. Coco Crisp cf; 2. Daric Barton 1b; 3. Kurt Suzuki c; 4. Jack Cust dh; 5. Mark Ellis 2b; 6. Gabe Gross rf; 7. Rajai Davis lf; 8. Jeff Larish 3b; 9. Cliff Pennington ss; and Gonzalez.
Indians (50-74) -- 1. Jason Donald 2b; 2. Asdrubal Cabrera ss; 3. Shin-Soo Choo rf; 4. Shelley Duncan lf; 5. Jayson Nix dh; 6. Matt LaPorta 1b; 7. Andy Marte 3b; 8. Trevor Crowe cf; 9. Lou Marson c; and Carmona.
Umpires: P -- Bruce Dreckman; 1b -- Paul Emmel; 2b -- Bill Hohn; 3b -- Gary Darling.