Indians 5, A's 1
CLEVELAND -- Danny Salazar came within one out of his second career complete game, and the Cleveland Indians broke a 1-1 tie with a four-run rally with two outs in the sixth inning as the Indians extended their winning streak to four games with a 5-1 victory over the Oakland A's Friday night at Progressive Field.
The right-hander Salazar (8-4) gave up one unearned run on five hits. He struck out eight and walked one. He was removed from the game with two outs in the ninth inning after giving up a single to second baseman Ben Zobrist and hitting designated hitter Billy Butler.
Cody Allen relieved Salazar and retired first baseman Ike Davis on an infield popup to pick up his 19th save.
The loss went to right-hander Kendall Graveman, who came into the game with a record of 3-0 with an 0.86 ERA in his previous three starts. But Graveman (6-5) gave up four runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.
With the score tied 1-1 Indians first baseman Carlos Santana opened the bottom of the sixth with a single. Graveman retired the next two batters, but third baseman Giovanny Urshela singled to center, moving Santana to third.
Center fielder Michael Bourn drew a walk, loading the bases. Left-hander Drew Pomeranz relieved Graveman and Pomeranz walked second baseman Jason Kipnis to force in Santana from third, giving Cleveland a 2-1 lead.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor also drew a walk, forcing in Urshela and extending the Indians' lead to 3-1. Left fielder Michael Brantley followed with a line-drive single to center field, scoring Bourn and Kipnis with Cleveland's fourth and fifth runs of the game. Pomeranz finally struck out designated hitter David Murphy, Cleveland's ninth hitter of the inning, to end the inning.
Salazar gave up a run in the first inning, then dominated Oakland's hitters. After the first inning Salazar held the A's scoreless on four hits over the last eight innings.
A's center fielder Billy Burns led off the first inning with a single. He was then safe at second when second baseman Jason Kipnis dropped a throw from third baseman Giovanny Urshela on what should have been a forceout on a grounder hit by left fielder Mark Canha. Burns scored on a sacrifice fly by Butler.
Salazar then settled in and retired the next 12 batters.
Graveman held Cleveland scoreless on two hits through the first three innings, but the Indians scored in the fourth inning to snap Graveman's 19-inning scoreless streak.
Murphy led off the inning with a single and went to second on a single by Santana. Graveman struck out right fielder Brandon Moss for the first out, but catcher Yan Gomes doubled down the left-field line, scoring Murphy with the tying run.
NOTES: Indians rookie SS Francisco Lindor is hitting just .220 since his recall from Triple-A Columbus on June 14, but manager Terry Francona says that's deceiving. "He's hit the ball a lot harder than his average shows," Francona said. ... The A's have had at least six players on the disabled list all year. They have not had fewer than two players on the DL since the end of the 2006 season. ... SS Marcus Semien's 28 errors are the third most in Oakland history by a shortstop, trailing only Bert Campaneris (34 in 1968) and Alfredo Griffin (30 in 1985).