Shin-Soo Choo gave his high school baseball coach a fitting tribute. Choo learned before batting practice that his coach had died of cancer. Then he homered twice and drove in a career-high seven runs in a 15-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night that snapped Cleveland's five-game losing streak.

Oakland didn't set an all-time bonus record Thursday, unlike last year, when the team gave Dominican right-hander Michael Ynoa $4.25 million.

The A's did, however, get one of their primary targets on the first day of international signings, nabbing 16-year-old Venezuelan shortstop Wilfredo Solano.

"He's got a little bit of everything," A's assistant general manager David Forst told the San Francisco Chronicle. "He's a switch hitter with some power, great hands, and we think he can stay at shortstop. He was a high-profile guy we targeted early."

Oakland also signed Wilman "Junior" Martinez, a third baseman, and outfielder Alfred Sosa, who are both 16. All three will report to the A's facility in the Dominican Republic.

While Solano's bonus is nothing close...

Jason Giambi and Jack Cust know that if they both start hitting more consistently, it could do a lot for Oakland's chances heading into the second half. Giambi and Cust broke out of funks with two-run homers, Dallas Braden ended a four-start winless stretch and the Athletics beat the Detroit Tigers 5-1 on Wednesday.

Armando Galarraga yielded three times more walks than hits, and his Detroit teammates made a big baserunning blunder, gave up a ninth-inning homer and committed two fielding errors. Manager Jim Leyland knew it all could have cost the AL Central-leading Tigers -- against a better opponent than the Oakland Athletics, that is.

Mark Ellis has always possessed an ineffable knack for timely hits during his years with the Oakland Athletics. Now that he's back from a two-month injury absence, maybe he can show his light-hitting teammates how to get it. Ellis hit a two-run homer in his second game back in the A's lineup, and Ryan Sweeney homered and drove in two runs in Oakland's 7-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on...

Aaron Cook is enjoying one of the most productive stretches of his career. It's also Colorado's best stretch since ending the 2007 season on a tear. Cook took a shutout into the ninth inning and won his fifth consecutive start as the Rockies defeated the Oakland Athletics 3-1 on Sunday. "Even when other teams get one or two hits, he's always one pitch away from putting the inning...

The Colorado Rockies have been the hottest team in baseball the past three weeks, and Brad Hawpe isn't surprised. "Everybody's taking good at-bats and nobody's giving at-bats away," Hawpe said after hitting his 100th career home run in the Rockies' 11-9 win over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night.

Jason Hamel isn't going back to relieving any time soon. The right-hander, obtained in an early season trade to help beef up Colorado's bullpen, is undefeated over his last seven starts and getting stronger with each outing. "It's been nice to get the opportunity to prove that I can do it and I'm trying to cash in on it the best I can," said Hamel after pitching a...

Randy Johnson is rejuvenated with the San Francisco Giants. He follows reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum in the rotation, then sees nine-game winner Matt Cain pitch after him. "I can't say I feel any younger watching them pitch," Johnson said. "I'm enjoying this year as much as any year I've ever enjoyed because I'm making my pitches." Johnson earned...

Tim Lincecum had to work a little harder for this one. Even a few jams weren't enough to faze him. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner pitched a seven-hitter in another complete game against Oakland, Pablo Sandoval and Edgar Renteria each hit RBI doubles and the San Francisco Giants beat the Athletics 4-1 on Tuesday night.

Barely a week ago, the Oakland Athletics were swept in San Francisco having scored all of three runs in three games. "We know we're a better team than we showed when we went there," reliever Brad Ziegler said. Bobby Crosby had three RBIs, rookie Trevor Cahill won his third straight decision and the A's ended a five-game losing streak in the Bay Bridge Series with a 5-1 victory...