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 The result was a 13-3 Oakland victory at Progressive Field, capping
a dominating three-game series sweep by the red-hot A's.
"All the guys we rely on to knock in runs are doing exactly what
they're supposed to do. That's when we're at our best," Oakland
manager Bob Melvin said.
"They've got it working now," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said
of the A's, who won for the ninth time in 10 games. "They are
getting really good starting pitching, they have a very good
bullpen, and in their lineup, they are swinging it one through
nine."
The sweep left the Indians reeling. Their losing streak is now four
games after they were outscored 30-6 in the three games against
Oakland.
"They embarrassed us on our home field," Cleveland center fielder
Michael Bourn said. "They beat us in every facet of the game."
Left fielder Brandon Moss had two doubles, a triple, four runs and
three RBIs Sunday, and designated hitter Yoenis Cespedes added a
career-high five RBIs for Oakland.
Right-hander Jesse Chavez (4-1) gave up two runs in five innings to
get the win. Indians right-hander Justin Masterson (2-3) allowed
seven runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Oakland broke the game open with a four-run fifth inning, knocking
Masterson out of the game.
With the A's leading 3-1, second baseman Eric Sogard led off the
sixth with a single. Center fielder Coco Crisp walked. Masterson
retired shortstop Nick Punto on a fly ball, but third baseman Josh
Donaldson singled home Sogard to give Oakland a 4-1 lead.
Moss followed with a double to left field, driving in Crisp to make
it 5-1. Cespedes then doubled over Bourn's head, scoring Donaldson
and Moss as Oakland pushed its advantage to 7-1.
The double by Cespedes knocked Masterson out of the game. Masterson
gave up seven hits and five walks, and he struck out just one.
"Lack of command was his biggest issue," Francona said. "He didn't
have a good feel for his breaking ball."
Masterson was at a loss to explain his outing.
"My next one will be good. Don't worry. This one was an anomaly," he
said.
Cleveland got a leadoff home run from Bourn in the first inning, but
it was all downhill from there for the Indians, who lost for the
sixth time in eight games to fall into last place in the American
League Central.
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Indians left fielder Michael Brantley belted his eighth home run, a
solo shot off Chavez in the fifth inning.
The A's added two more runs in the sixth inning off left-hander Josh
Outman. With two outs and nobody on, Punto doubled and went to third
on a passed ball. The Indians intentionally walked Donaldson, but
the streaking Moss ripped a double to right field, driving in both
runners to make it a 9-2 Oakland lead.
In his last five official at bats, Moss is 5-for-5 with two doubles,
a triple, a home run and five RBIs.
"Everybody's going up there and taking good swings," Moss said. "We
have guys who put together some good at-bats who have some pop. That
usually leads to runs."
A's right fielder Josh Reddick had an RBI double in the seventh
inning and Cespedes added a two-run double in the eighth inning.
"Obviously we got a lot of guys on base in this series," Donaldson
said. "From top to bottom, we had guys having really good at bats."
NOTES: Manager Terry Francona shook up the Indians' lineup Sunday.
1B Nick Swisher, hitting .202, was dropped from the No. 2 to No. 6
in the order. C/3B Carlos Santana, hitting .154, was moved from the
cleanup spot to No. 7 in the lineup. Swisher went 0-for-5, and
Santana finished 0-for-4. ... Swisher made another error Sunday. He
has twice as many errors (six) as home runs (three). ... A's 1B
Brandon Moss has 21 home runs and 72 RBIs in 77 games dating back to
Aug. 19. The RBIs are the most in the majors in that span.
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