A's fizzle after starting strongly

Luis Valbuena and Ben Francisco each went 3- for-3, with Valbuena knocking in a run and scoring twice and Francisco adding a two-run homer in Cleveland's 5-2 win over Oakland. Carl Pavano (7-7) evened his record with 6 2/3 quality innings on the mound, giving up two runs on eight hits and two walks for the Indians, who won back- to-back games for the first time since June 11-12. Grady Sizemore went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI in the win. Vin Mazzaro (2-4), now winless in his last five starts, yielded five runs on 10 hits and a walk in six-plus innings for the Athletics, who have dropped eight of 10. Orlando Cabrera recorded an RBI and three of the A's eight hits. "I left a few pitches up in the zone and they took advantage of it," Mazzaro said. Oakland had a chance to jump on the hosts early but only got one run across in the first inning when Adam Kennedy raced home on Matt Holliday's sacrifice fly. Ryan Sweeney lined out with the base...