Athletics lead Indians, 1-0, through three innings.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This is a daily briefing of the Indians' 2010 regular season. The Tribe plays host to the Athletics in the finale of a three-game series at Progressive Field.
Pitching matchups: RHP Justin Masterson (4-12, 5.33) vs. RHP Vin Mazzaro (6-5, 3.56).
In-game updates: The Athletics led the Indians, 1-0, through three innings.
Gabe Gross had a two-out single to left in the second to drive in Mark Ellis.
Mazzaro allowed one hit -- a one-out single by Luis Valbuena in the third. Mazzaro had retired seven in a row to open the game.
Lou Marson followed with a walk. Michael Brantley grounded into a 5-4-3 double play.
It will be a surprise if Mazzaro does not pitch at least six innings. Athletics starters have worked at least six in 23 straight games.
Masterson gave up the one run on two hits. He walked one, hit two and struck out two. Masterson ranks among league leaders in plunking batters.
Pregame notes:
First baseman Matt LaPorta, one of the youngsters on whom the Indians are counting to form part of their core, is struggling.
LaPorta has four hits in 42 at-bats of his last 12 games, dropping his season's average to .235 in 83 games.
Tribe manager Manny Acta is not going to overreact.
"He's just in a slump,'' Acta said. "He's had his ups and downs. He's going to need to make adjustments.''
LaPorta has been particularly vulnerable to off-speed pitches.
"He's shown flashes,'' Acta said. "The next step is to try to get consistency.''
LaPorta is far from the only Indian fighting himself at the plate. The club is hitting .246.
During a five-game losing streak, the Indians have scored four runs.
"The guys are showing up every day and working hard,'' Acta said. "At the end of the day, we'll see what they're made of.''
Rondon down: Right-hander Hector Rondon, the Indians' 2009 minor-league pitcher of the year, underwent reconstructive elbow surgery on Wednesday. He last pitched May 12 because of elbow soreness. He went 1-3 with an 8.53 ERA in seven starts for Class AAA Columbus.
Acta said that Rondon, had he been healthy, likely would have gotten a look in Cleveland in September.
"We lost one year of development, and probably one more,'' Acta said of 2010 and 2011. "The good thing about it is, Tommy John (surgery) is not what it used to be. A lot of guys come back stronger.''
Lineups:
Athletics (63-62) -- 1. Coco Crisp cf; 2. Daric Barton 1b; 3. Kurt Suzuki c; 4. Jack Cust lf; 5. Mark Ellis 2b; 6. Jeff Larish dh; 7. Kevin Kouzmanoff 3b; 8. Gabe Gross rf; 9. Cliff Pennington ss; and Mazzaro.
Indians (50-76) -- 1. Michael Brantley cf; 2. Asdrubal Cabrera ss; 3. Shin-Soo Choo rf; 4. Travis Hafner dh; 5. Jayson Nix 3b; 6. Trevor Crowe lf; 7. Matt LaPorta 1b; 8. Luis Valbuena 2b; 9. Lou Marson c; and Masterson.
Umpires: P -- Boll Hohn; 1b -- Gary Darling; 2b -- Bruce Dreckman; 3b -- Paul Emmel.