|
 Right-hander Danny Salazar went out that night and provided more
proof that standing pat was a good decision by the Indians' front
office.
Salazar allowed one hit and one unearned run in eight innings and
the Indians rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Oakland A's at O.co
Coliseum.
Salazar came one inning shy of becoming the fourth straight Indians
starter to pitch a complete game, but he wasn't complaining after
his gem, especially with all of his fellow starters still together.
"This is awesome," Salazar said. "We're more than teammates. We're
friends. I think like this right now we're perfect. I don't think
the Indians are going to trade any of the starting pitchers."
Salazar (9-6) struck out four, walked one and beat the A's for the
second time in July. He gave up just a single to A's second baseman
Eric Sogard in the third inning when Oakland scored its only run.
"I was in fastball mode," Salazar said. "Four-seam, two-seam. I
stuck with that the whole game."
Right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall, playing his second game since being
recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, went 3-for-4 with a
double and scored the go-ahead run for Cleveland in the ninth inning
Chisenhall grounded a leadoff single to center off right-hander
Edward Mujica (2-3), stole second base and scored with one out when
center fielder Michael Bourn bounced a ground-rule double over the
center-field fence.
"It feels good to get a win," Chisenhall said. "Danny went out there
and pitched well. It was a tight ballgame the whole time. Just to
get that win, it's huge."
Indians right-hander Cody Allen pitched a scoreless ninth for his
21st save of the season, closing out Cleveland's third straight
victory.
A's right-hander Kendall Graveman gave up one unearned run in 6 2/3
innings, getting a no decision but bouncing back from his worst
start of the season. He allowed five hits, struck out six and walked
two.
In his previous start, Graveman lasted a season-low 1 1/3 innings,
allowing four runs and seven hits in a 4-3 loss to San Francisco,
extending his losing streak to three games.
"It's frustrating," A's manager Bob Melvin of wasting Graveman's
gem. "You go through periods of the season where you're up and down,
but you like to time it right to where when you get a well-pitched
game you get just enough to give him a decision, and we weren't able
to do that."
The A's took a 1-0 lead into the seventh and Graveman retired the
first two batters he faced in that inning. But Indians catcher Yan
Gomes lined a single to right and advanced to third on Chisenhall's
opposite double down the left-field line.
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Graveman appeared to have escaped the jam when third baseman
Giovanny Urshela hit a slow two-hopper to charging shortstop Marcus
Semien. But Semien threw wide right for his 29th error of the season
-- the most in the major leagues -- and Gomes raced home, scoring
the tying run.
"That's a play that's got to be made," Semien said. "I came in with
a full head of steam. It's a game of inches. If I aim a little more
to the left side of (first baseman Ike Davis), we get that out.
"Kendall deserves that win. We get one hit and still could have won
that game. If that play's made, we get out of the inning."
The A's took a 1-0 lead in the third, scoring an unearned run
against Salazar.
Left fielder Mark Canha worked a leadoff walk and advanced to third
on Sogard's sharp single to right. Canha scored when Urshela booted
Semien's hard ground ball.
With two runners on and no outs, the A's had a chance for a big
inning, but Salazar had other ideas. He struck out center fielder
Billy Burns, got third baseman Brett Lawrie to ground into a
fielder's choice and retired right fielder Josh Reddick on a fly
ball to shallow right.
"I tried to throw all I got there on every pitch to not let them
score," Salazar said.
NOTES: The A's acquired LHP Felix Doubront on Friday from Toronto
for cash. Doubront will join the team Saturday and will likely be
activated Sunday. ... Oakland traded Triple-A Nashville right-hander
Ryan Cook, a former American League All-Star, to Boston for a player
to be named later or cash. ... Indians LHP Marc Rzepczynski was
traded to San Diego for outfielder Abraham Almonte, who was optioned
to Triple-A Columbus. ... Cleveland called up OF Jerry Sands from
Triple-A Columbus. ... Indians RHP Josh Tomlin (right shoulder
surgery in April 2015) was activated from the disabled list and
optioned to Columbus. ... RHP Toru Murata, who made one start for
Cleveland this season, was outrighted from the 40-man roster to
Columbus.
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