The Athletics scored five in the first inning and led the Indians, 6-1, through six.
CLEVELAND, Ohio. -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians 2010 regular season. The Indians play the A's tonight in the second game of a three-game series at Progressive Field.
Progressive Field's dimensions: Left field line 325 feet, left field power alley 370 feet, center field 400, right center field power alley 375, right field line 325.
In-game updates:
The Athletics led the Indians, 6-1, through six innings.
Oakland scored five in the first.
After Coco Crisp led off with a grounder to second, Daric Barton drew his 79th walk of the season. Kurt Suzuki was hit by a pitch -- or was he? Indians manager Manny Acta briefly argued with plate umpire Paul Emmel that Mitch Talbot's pitch struck the knob of Suzuki's bat.
Jack Cust singled to right to drive in Barton. After Mark Ellis walked, Rajai Davis had an RBI single to left. Former Indian Kevin Kouzmanoff ripped a three-run double off the wall in center. Kouzmanoff leads the Athletics with 60 RBI.
Talbot stranded Kouzmanoff by retiring the next two. Talbot recovered nicely, breezing from the second through the fifth.
Athletics right-hander Trevor Cahill, who entered 13-5 with a 2.54 ERA and .198 average against, allowed seven hits and an unearned run. The Indians grounded into three double plays -- Asdrubal Cabrera in the first and Trevor Crowe in the second and sixth.
The Indians pulled within 5-1 in the fifth. Jason Donald led off with a grounder that third baseman Kouzmanoff failed to field for an error. Donald scored from second on a two-out single by Cabrera, but the Athletics caught Cabrera between first and second.
Kouzmanoff tripled off Tribe center fielder Michael Brantley's glove in the sixth and scored on a sacrifice fly.
Hector Ambriz relieved Talbot to begin the seventh.
Pre-game notes:
Game 126: Progressive Field will go to the dogs Thursday night. No, that is not a redundancy considering the Indians record this season.
For the first time, the Indians have invited dog owners to bring their pets to the ballpark for a game. Curtis Danburg, Indians director of communications and creative services, says the Indians sold 500 tickets to Puppypalooza. They are expecting 200 dogs at the park to watch the Indians play the A's.
The dogs and their owners will have the run of the Bud Light Party Deck behind the right field foul pole. Progressive Insurance has provided pet insurance for the event. The Northeast Ohio Sewer District and its PUP (pick up poop) campaign is one of the sponsors of the event.
"We'll have dog vendors at the park, doggie pools and water dishes and a designated area for the dogs to be walked and do their business," said Danburg. "Before the game we'll have a parade where people can walk their dogs around the field.
"We've done a lot of research on this. A lot of big-league parks have done it. We found out that 70 percent of the people who come to own games have pets. Why not let them bring their pets to the game?"
Danburg added Thursday will be a fireworks free game to keep the dogs as calm as possible. Veterinarians from Banfield Pet Hospitals will be at the game.
"Part of the proceeds for each ticket sold go to the Cleveland Animal Protective League," said Danburg.
Pet owners must show proof that their dogs have the required vaccinations and sign a liability waiver prior to entering the park.
Quick hits:
-Center fielder Michael Brantley (left ankle) returned to the starting lineup tonight missing four games because of his ankle injury.
-Aaron Laffey pitched 1 1/3 rehab innings for Class AAA Columbus on Tuesday. He allowed two runs on four hits. He's made four rehab appearances, but told manager Manny Acta he's still recovered from his tired left shoulder.
"He needs more time," said Acta.
Lineups:
A's (62-62): CF Coco Crisp (S), 1B Daric Barton (L), C Kurt Suzuki (R), DH Jack Cust (L), 2B Mark Ellis (R), LF Rajai Davis (R), 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff (R), RF Gabe Gross (L), SS Cliff Pennington (S) and RHP Trevor Cahill (13-5, 2.54).
Indians (50-75): CF Michael Brantley (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), DH Travis Hafner (L), 3B Jayson Nix (R), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), LF Trevor Crowe (L), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), 2B Jason Donald (R), C Lou Marson (R) and RHP Mitch Talbot (8-10, 4.23).
Umpires: H Paul Emmel, 1B Bill Hohn, 2B Gary Darling, 3B Bruce Dreckman.
Quote of the day: "I don't care who you are, you hear those boos," the late great Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle, to Look Magazine in March of 1969.
Next: Justin Masterson (4-12, 5.33) vs. RHP Vin Mazzaro (6-5, 3.56) Wednesday at 7:05 p.m.