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OAKLAND – The Blue Jays entered Fridays action the American League club most reliant on the long ball to score runs. It should come as no surprise, then, that the club struggled offensively during the Fourth of July matinee, a 1-0, 12-inning shutout loss to Oakland during which they had nine hits, including a double and eight singles. It should come as no surprise, then, that the club struggled offensively (five hits) in a series opening 4-1 loss to ace right-hander Sonny Gray and two Athletics relievers on Thursday. Fielding a lineup that included, among the bottom four, Triple-A call ups Brad Glenn, Darin Mastroianni and Munenori Kawasaki, the Blue Jays were shut out for six innings by Oakland left-hander Tommy Milone. Milone allowed only four hits, one of which was a sun-aided popup double by Steve Tolleson in the fifth inning. The Jays, with 404, ranked third in the American League in runs scored on Friday morning. A full 45-percent, or 182 of those runs, have been scored via the home run. If the blot that is Mount Davis in centerfield or the sewage backups that twice have rendered the visitors clubhouse a wasteland of human sewage arent enough to make O.co Coliseum an unappealing place, its well-earned reputation as a stadium where home runs go to die should be enough to turn Blue Jays stomachs. There are only two other teams in the American League that rely on the home run to score more than 40-percent of their runs. The Baltimore Orioles are percentage points behind the Blue Jays (166 of 369 runs, rounded up to 45-percent) and the Houston Astros are third (138 of 322 runs, 42.9-percent). By point of comparison, nine AL teams account for between 30 and 38.9-percent of their runs via the home run. Three teams (Minnesota, 26.2-percent; Texas, 25-percent; Kansas City, 24.8-percent) bring up the rear. LAWRIE MISSED Brett Lawries critics like to point to his .299 on-base percentage as the main reason for their displeasure with the 24-year-olds season. Yet, Lawries the man who drove the bus on manager John Gibbons platoons that worked so well in May. Moreover, his right-handed bat is missed as the Jays faced a raft of left-handed pitching last weekend against the White Sox and this weekend against Oakland. The Angels are scheduled to throw two southpaws next week and the Jays expect to see at least one in Tampa Bay next weekend. "We miss Brett right now," said manager John Gibbons. "Bretts a key guy. He really is. Like I said, I think when he first went down, he adds energy to that room and on the field. Our personalities arent, we dont have a lot of that. Of course his play on the field makes a huge difference." Lawrie is out with a fractured right index finger, suffered when he was hit on the hand by a Johnny Cueto pitch on June 22 in Cincinnati. General manager Alex Anthopoulos suggested last week Lawrie could be out through July. The timeframe fits; the injury has a three-to-six week healing period. ROSTER MOVE Prior to Fridays game, the Blue Jays activated reliever Brett Cecil from the disabled list. Outfielder Anthony Gose was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. Cecil pitched to two hitters in the 10th inning, setting down Nick Punto and walking Coco Crisp. He was not involved the in the decision. Daniel Murphy Jersey . In the days leading up to the draft, TSN.ca and TSN Radio basketball analyst Duane Watson looks at some of the names that will be headlining the event. Tonight, Michigans Nik Stauskas of Mississauga, Ontario. Troy Tulowitzki Jersey . Coming off a 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal endured another demoralizing result after rallying for a 2-1 lead -- only to concede a fluke equalizer. https://www.cheaprockiesjerseys.us/754t-...ey-rockies.html. "Im not even that added up," the 39-year-old Australian replied. And to the Hall of Famers surprise, when all the math was done Sunday in the JTBC Founders Cup, she was the one posing for pictures with the big trophy. David Nied Jersey . Kalish got his first hit since Sept. 11, 2012, when he rapped an RBI triple in the first inning Sunday in the Chicago Cubs 8-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Vinny Castilla Jersey . According to Yahoo! Sports, the team has reached a five-year deal to play their home games on the roof of the Plaza Hotel and Casino.CLEVELAND -- Sitting on a stage last week alongside No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Wiggins and new coach David Blatt, general manager David Griffin said he hoped this would be a monumental off-season for the Cavaliers. Its already been quite a summer. And LeBron James is still out there. Cleveland kept its momentum rolling early Tuesday by getting All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to agree to a new, five-year, $90 million contract extension. Irvings deal, completed with a handshake in New York with owner Dan Gilbert, cements a commitment with Cleveland that wasnt always so strong. "Im here for the long haul Cleveland!!!! And Im ecstatic!!" Irving wrote on his Twitter account shortly after the agreement was reached. "Super excited and blessed to be here and a part of something special." For months, Irvings future with the Cavs seemed uncertain. There were reports he wasnt happy in Cleveland as well as speculation the Cavs didnt believe he was a cornerstone player. There were trade rumours and rumblings the team was not going to offer him the maximum extension. Whatever differences there may have been seem to have been worked out. Griffin, who likes to refer to his team as "family," has the Cavs united. James surely has noticed. The Cavs have waited four years for their chance to lure the four-time league MVP back home. This may be the perfect time. Because Irvings extension doesnt kick in until the 2015-16 season, the Cavs have room under the salary cap to pursue free agents. They would have to move some other contracts if the reports are accurate that James will only sign for a max deal. Griffin has said clearing space to accommodate a five-year, $120 million contract would be extremely easy. The hard part might be getting James to believe the Cavs, who have not made the playoffs since he left in 2010, are title contenders -- now. Theyve got some quality pieces for sure, but do they have enough? Irving, who played in a career-high 71 games this past season, has established himself as one of the NBAs elite point guards, and now that the contract situation is no longer an issue, it may unburden him to play the best basketball of his life.dddddddddddd The 6-foot-8 Wiggins would have been the top pick a year ago if he hadnt gone to college and James has long admired the 19-year-olds gifts. Its somewhat interesting that Griffin said Wiggins potential greatness would come at shooting guard, perhaps leaving an opening at small forward for a certain former Cavalier. To entice James, the Cavs may need to make a blockbuster move. Theyve got some assets to play with and a trade involving talented guard Dion Waiters could bring back a starter. Griffin hinted that he isnt done remodeling the Cavs. "We need to continue to work on the defensive side of the ball," he said at Wiggins introductory news conference. "We need to get better from a basketball IQ standpoint, from a shooting perspective. And all of those moves will be forthcoming." For several years, the Cavs have been involved in trade rumours involving Kevin Love, who has one year left on his deal with Minnesota. If Cleveland can package the right pieces together, they may be able to pry Love away from the Timberwolves. Love and James were teammates four years ago in the London Olympics, where they helped the U.S. win a gold medal. Back then, James said that when he won his first championship with Miami, his thoughts quickly shifted to Cleveland and what might have been. "I wish I could have won one there," he said before a practice. "I could only imagine how the parade would have been down East Ninth Street. Of course I thought about it because Cleveland helped me get to that point. The days that I spent there helped me get to the point where I was able to finally win one. Its just unfortunate I wasnt able to do it there." Its possible James will re-sign with the Heat and the Cavs will move on without him. But if they decide to pursue the two-time champion in the days ahead and get a meeting with James, the Cavs can sell their team and tug at his heart. James has never rejected the idea of a return to Cleveland. Maybe this is the summer to mend fences and start anew in a familiar place. ' ' '