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OAKLAND [url=http://www.packerscheapstore.com/kevin-king-jersey-cheap]Kevin King Jersey[/url] , Calif. — Two pitchers looking to create a first positive memory of Sunday’s opponent go head-to-head when the Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics complete a three-game series.

The A’s have won the first two games of the series, getting outstanding performances from starters Paul Blackburn and Edwin Jackson in 3-1 and 7-2 victories.

Oakland, which has won six in a row, allowed five total runs in its last four games.

Right-hander Frankie Montas (4-1, 3.68 ERA) will attempt to continue that run, but will do so in the wake of three consecutive shaky efforts, during which he has allowed 12 earned runs and 24 hits in 15 innings.

The 25-year-old has never started a game against the Indians, but faced them three times in relief, going 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 4 2/3 innings.

One of those bullpen outings against Cleveland came last May, when he gave up two runs in an 8-4 loss.

Montas will have big shoes to fill after the outings by Blackburn and Jackson, who held the Indians to a total of two runs in 13 innings.

With the recent emergence of Blackburn and Jackson and news that Trevor Cahill appears on schedule to return to the starting rotation after the All-Star break [url=http://www.packerscheapstore.com/montravius-adams-jersey-cheap]Montravius Adams Jersey[/url] , Montas might only have a few opportunities to turn things around before losing his job.

A’s manager Bob Melvin gushed over the performance of Jackson on Saturday in his second straight sharp outing after having been signed off the scrap heap.

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised,” Melvin said. “That he was available to us was a surprise.”

Having seen the veteran firsthand, the Indians might be wondering why they weren’t the ones who gave the 99-game winner a shot.

Especially with news Saturday that Danny Salazar, a 14- and 11-game winner for the Indians in recent years, will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Monday, putting his season in question.

Right-hander Mike Clevenger (6-3, 3.03), who got a greater opportunity last year while Salazar had health issues and responded with a 12-win season, will attempt to salvage one win in Oakland for the Indians on Sunday.

He has pitched well in his last four starts, allowing six earned runs, but he has never beaten the A’s in his career [url=http://www.packerscheapstore.com/josh-jones-jersey-cheap]Josh Jones Jersey[/url] , going 0-1 with a 7.04 ERA in two games (one start).

The A’s last saw the 27-year-old in a relief role in August 2016 and cuffed him around for four hits and three runs in one inning of a 9-1 victory.

Clevenger will have to hope for more offensive support than the Indians provided Trevor Bauer and Adam Plutko in the first two games of the series. Both pitched well enough to win, allowing five runs and 11 hits in 12 1/3 innings.

The A’s have used the long ball to get the upper hand against the Indians in the first two games. Jed Lowrie, Josh Phegley, Dustin Fowler and Matt Olson all hit homers, accounting for six of Oakland’s 10 runs.

Bills center Eric Wood’s plans to announce his retirement on Monday were sidetracked due to issues arising over what he is owed over the final two years of his contract, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

Instead of announcing his retirement in front of a large gathering of family, friends and teammates, the nine-year veteran instead spent less than two minutes reading from a prepared statement in which Wood stressed he is still on the team’s roster.

”Thanks to everyone who supported me throughout my career. And because of that, I am here today,” Wood said. ”I’m sure there are a lot of unanswered questions. I hope to address those at a later date. Thanks, and go Bills.”

With that [url=http://www.packerscheapstore.com/oren-burks-jersey-cheap]Oren Burks Jersey[/url] , Wood stepped down from the stage, picked up and kissed his daughter, Grace, and walked away behind a curtain.

Wood will never play again after tests revealed he has two discs he said are ”dangerously close to my spinal cord.”

According to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, teams can ask for a portion of bonus money to be returned if a player retires before his contract expires. There is, however, a gray area if a player retires as a result of a career-ending injury.

The person said the question over bonus money was the reason Wood held off on announcing his retirement as had been initially planned shortly after the player learned of his diagnosis following Buffalo’s 10-3 loss to Jacksonville in the AFC wild card playoff on Jan. 7.

The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because neither Wood nor the team commented on the matter that delayed the start of the news conference by nearly an hour.

Wood has been informed by doctors that the injury is so severe he would no longer be cleared to play – even with surgery or further treatment.

Bills general manager Brandon Beane declined to get into specifics when speaking with reporters. He said the lengthy delay in starting the news conference was the result of Wood’s late arrival and also due to a phone call the player had with his agent.

Beane acknowledged a complication by saying the team has no room under the current salary cap to release Wood until the NFL’s 2018 business year opens in mid-March.

”It’s tough. There’s all sorts of things when you’re doing roster management and all that,” he said. ”He’ll be on our roster for a while until we figure things out.”

Wood was entering the final year of his contract before signing a two-year extension in August. He has shied away from using the word retirement since news of his neck injury first surfaced Friday.

In a separate development, the Bills announced defensive line coach Mike Waufle has retired after completing his 20th NFL season and first in Buffalo.

The Bills filled Waufle’s spot by promoting defensive line assistant Bill Teerlinck. They also hired Aaron Whitecotton to take over as Teerlinck’s assistant.

Rather than focus on Wood’s uncertain status, Beane was more interested in discussing the impact the 31-year-old had as a team leader and helping the Bills reach the playoffs for the first time in 18 years.

”This is Eric’s day. It’s about him and a heck of a career he had,” Beane said. ”It’s bittersweet [url=http://www.packerscheapstore.com/marquez-valdes-scantling-jersey-cheap]Marquez Valdes-Scantling Jersey[/url] , but we’re just trying to celebrate his career.”

The news conference was held in the Bills’ practice facility rather than the team’s smaller media room to handle a crowd of about 100 people – not including members of the media – attending the event. Guests included Wood’s former teammates such as quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, and current Bills, including defensive tackle Kyle Williams and running back LeSean McCoy.

Also on hand were members of his charitable foundation, The Eric Wood Fund, as well family members of people his foundation has supported.

Wood opened the news conference by apologizing for the delay. He said was ”floored” when informed of the severity of his neck injury.

Wood said he sustained ”a stinger” for the first time in his career during a 20-16 loss at Cincinnati on Oct. 8, and then a second one the following game. He said tests showed no significant damage.

Wood is from Cincinnati and spent four seasons playing at Louisville before being selected by the Bills with their second of two first-round picks in the 2009 draft. Wood earned a starting job entering his rookie season and appeared in 121 career games, including one in the playoff.

Wood was also popular in the community for his charitable work, and was the team’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee in 2015 and `16.

Bills fans rallied to Wood’s support by donating more than $30,000 to Wood’s foundation, with the money going toward Buffalo’s Oishei Children’s Hospital.

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AP NFL website: