Wood to throw for Aeros Monday night

CLEVELAND: Akron fans can watch Kerry Wood throw one inning Monday night at Canal Park, as the Tribe closer begins a brief rehabilitation assignment.

Wood has been recovering from a strained right lat since spring training and is expected to make at least two appearances for the Aeros, who play Trenton.

Austin Kearns was in the lineup for the eighth consecutive game today. In his past seven games, he is batting .387 with three doubles, two homers and 10 RBI. Overall, he is batting .357 and has hit safely in 13 of 14 games.

Heading into today's action, the Blue Jays, who play a three-game set at Progressive Field beginning tonight, were leading the American League with 35 home runs. Moreover, their pitching staff compiled a string of 59 innings without allowing a homer.

The streak ended Saturday, when Dana Eveland gave up the longball to Josh Donaldson of Oakland. Another streak might be in the offing, because the Tribe ranks 13th in AL homers with 14. Only the Mariners, with nine, have hit fewer.

Francisco Liriano's 23-inning scoreless streak ended quickly this afternoon, and it was his own fault.

Asdrubal Cabrera led off the first inning with a hard ground ball that bounced off the pitcher. Liriano rushed to recover the ball and threw it past first baseman Justin Morneau all the way down the right field line. The single and two-base error put Cabrera on third, from where he scored on Grady Sizemore's ground out.