AL | A's coasting into Atlanta on fumes

CLEVELAND — Perhaps the arrival of interleague play will be the shake-up the A's need to steer things back in the right direction.

They wobble into Turner Field tonight for the start of a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves, the final leg of a nine-game road trip that to this point can only be described as discouraging.

Exclude Sunday's 12-run outburst against the Texas Rangers, and the A's have scored a total of six runs in the other five games against Texas and Cleveland.

Against the Tribe, the A's advanced a runner as far as third base in just three of 27 innings.

"We're a little down, you know," A's third baseman Jack Hannahan said.

Minnesota: OF Carlos Gomez was slowed by illness and out of Thursday's starting lineup against Toronto. Gomez told manager Ron Gardenhire he could play, but the decision was made to let him rest. Gomez was inserted in the ninth inning as a defensive replacement for Craig Monroe.

N.Y. Yankees: Alex Rodriguez (right quadriceps) worked out at Tropicana Field, running the bases for the first time since going on the disabled list. He's scheduled to play in extended spring-training games Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and he's hoping to rejoin the Yankees on Tuesday. ... LHP Kei Igawa was optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to make room for Ian Kennedy. The move left the Yankees without a left-hander in the bullpen. ... C Jorge Posada, out with a right shoulder injury, threw at 75 feet. He might be ready for a minor-league rehab assignment the last week of May.

San Diego: C Michael Barrett, on the 15-day DL with a sprained ligament in his right elbow, will probably start a rehab assignment at Class AAA Portland next week, manager Bud Black said. ... Tony Clark likely will be a designated hitter when the Padres visit Seattle this weekend.

Tampa Bay: Executives on Thursday announced a $450 million financing plan for a 34,000-seat waterfront ballpark.

MLB: Baseball owners unanimously ratified tougher drug-testing rules Thursday, and commissioner Bud Selig said he will now turn his attention to whether maple bats have become dangerous.

Players have until May 23 to ratify the drug agreement, which will increase the frequency of tests and the authority of the program's independent administrator.

Selig said the executive council discussed players' use of bats made from maple wood, which seem to be shattering more frequently — and in a more dangerous fashion — than those made of ash.

Seattle Times news services