Indians 4, Athletics 3
Nick Swisher and Carlos Santana delivered solo home runs to give host Cleveland the lead in the sixth inning and the Indians won for the ninth time in their last 10 games in controversial fashion.
With two outs in the ninth inning, Oakland's Adam Rosales hit a ball off Chris Perez which replays clearly showed hit a railing beyond the left-center field fence. After a review, crew chief Angel Hernandez upheld the ruling on the field - a double - as Athletics manager Bob Melvin argued vehemently and was ejected.
Perez followed by hitting Eric Sogard and walking John Jaso before retiring Seth Smith for his fifth save - and second in two nights. Justin Masterson (5-2) allowed three runs and four hits - all in the fourth inning - while striking out seven in seven frames for the Indians, who have won the first three games of the series.
A.J. Griffin (3-3) allowed four runs (three earned) and six hits in 6 2/3 innings for the Athletics. Oakland took its first lead of the series when Brandon Moss lined a one-out RBI single to right field in the fourth and two batters later, Barton delivered a two-run single up the middle after the runners moved up on a wild pitch.
The Indians loaded the bases with none out in the fifth inning before Oakland forced the lead runner on a fielder's choice grounder. Griffin thought he was out of the inning with a double play when Michael Brantley grounded to second, but shortstop Rosario threw wild on the relay, allowing two runs to score.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Athletics OF Josh Reddick missed his second straight game with a sore right wrist. He is 3-for-27 with eight strikeouts in his last 11 games. ... Oakland's three-run fourth was the first multi-run inning yielded by the Indians in 28 frames since Minnesota scored twice in the second inning Sunday. ... Oakland is 13-3 against the AL West and 5-14 versus everyone else.