Athletics 7, Indians 3
Chris Young and Alberto Callaspo both belted solo homers in the fifth inning as host Oakland snapped a tie and then held off Cleveland to win two of three in the series.
Josh Donaldson knocked in three runs, Young had two RBIs and Callaspo added three hits and scored twice for the Athletics. Dan Otero (2-0) gave up one hit over 1 2/3 innings to earn the victory for Oakland, which moved within a half game of Texas in the American League West.
Carlos Santana and Jason Kipnis each delivered two hits and an RBI for the Indians, who dropped 4 ½ games behind Oakland for the second AL wild-card spot. Cleveland starter Scott Kazmir (7-6), given extra days off since his last start Aug. 9, yielded five runs and 10 hits over five innings.
Jed Lowrie singled and Derek Norris doubled before Donaldson’s groundout and a two-out RBI single by Young gave Oakland a 2-0 lead in the first. After Ryan Raburn’s 15th homer of the season in the top of the second, Donaldson’s two-out single plated Lowrie for a 3-1 advantage in the bottom of the frame.
Kipnis singled home one run and Santana plated another with a double, after a throwing error by Callaspo at third base, and the Indians tied it 3-3 in the fifth. Young, who made a big leaping catch on Michael Brantley in the eighth inning, and Callaspo responded with solo blasts to left one batter apart to re-establish the lead.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Oakland RHP Bartolo Colon, Sunday’s scheduled starter, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain. LHP Tommy Milone was recalled to take his place, allowing three runs (one earned) and six hits over 4 2/3 innings. … Oakland LF Yoenis Cespedes threw out Nick Swisher trying to stretch a single into a double in the seventh. … The Indians start a three-game series at the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland hosts Seattle to begin a three-game set on Monday.