A's 5, Indians 4
CLEVELAND -- The Oakland A's scored three runs in the eighth inning and held on to beat the Cleveland Indians 5-4 Saturday night at Progressive Field.
Oakland (39-50) snapped its three-game losing streak and ended a four-game winning streak by Cleveland (42-44).
With the score tied at 2-2 in the eighth inning, the A's scored three runs in a rally that began with two outs and nobody on base. Catcher Stephen Vogt singled off right-hander Zach McAllister and moved to second on second baseman Ben Zobrist's single off left-hander Marc Rzepczynski. Josh Reddick then drew a walk to load the bases.
Right-hander Bryan Shaw relieved Rzepczynski, and designated hitter Billy Butler sliced a double down the right-field line, scoring Vogt and Zobrist.
Right fielder Brandon Moss' throw to second base hit Butler in the back and rolled into left field, and Reddick scored on the error.
Cleveland quickly cut the deficit to 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth, on a two-run home run by first baseman Carlos Santana off right-hander Edward Mujica. But A's right-hander Tyler Clippard got the last four outs of the game to pick up his 17th save.
The win went to left-hander Eric O'Flaherty (1-2), who got the last two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. McAllister (2-3) took the loss.
Oakland took a 1-0 lead in the first inning off right-hander Carlos Carrasco. With one out, Vogt doubled to left field and moved to third when Zobrist lined a single to right field. Vogt then scored on a sacrifice by Reddick.
Carrasco held Oakland scoreless on two hits over the next four innings, but Cleveland struggled to score against right-hander Chris Bassitt, who had been recalled from Triple-A Nashville before the game to start in place of right-hander Jesse Hahn, who was placed on the disabled list.
Cleveland tied it with a run in the sixth inning off Bassitt. Second baseman Jason Kipnis led off the inning with a triple off the left-field wall. Shortstop Francisco Lindor grounded out, but left fielder Michael Brantley singled to left, scoring Kipnis with the tying run.
Bassitt lasted 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and a walk and striking out three.
Oakland took a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh. With one out, Reddick ripped a double to center field off Carrasco and Butler drew a walk. First baseman Ike Davis then lined a double into the gap in left-center field, scoring Reddick.
Carrasco gave up two runs on six hits and a walk in seven innings. He struck out seven.
The Indians tied it in the seventh inning, which began with a double down the left-field line by third baseman Giovanny Urshela. Center fielder Michael Bourn's sacrifice bunt moved Urshela to third base, and Urshela scored on catcher Roberto Perez's single to center.
NOTES: Indians INF Mike Aviles has been placed on the family medical emergency list. Aviles left the team to be with his family and his 4-year-old daughter Adriana, who has been diagnosed with leukemia. ... To take the place of Aviles on the roster, the Indians recalled INF Jose Ramirez from Triple-A Columbus. Ramirez started the season with the Indians but was optioned to Columbus on June 7. In 109 at-bats over 28 games at Columbus, Ramirez was hitting .349. ... The A's placed RHP Jesse Hahn on the disabled list with a right forearm strain. The A's recalled RHP Chris Bassitt from Triple-A Nashville.