Oakland Athletics vs Cleveland Guardians Match Player Stats On Jun 01, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jun 1, 2017

CLEVELAND -- Corey Kluber came off the disabled list to pitch six scoreless innings and the Cleveland Indians benefited from three errors by the Oakland A's that led to five unearned runs in an 8-0 victory Thursday afternoon at Progressive Field.

Kluber (4-2), making his first start since May 2, gave up two hits and struck out 10. Indians pitchers fanned 59 in the four-game series.

A's starter Jharel Cotton (3-6), pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up five runs, but only one earned. He allowed four hits, struck out four and walked four.

Oakland's three errors bring its season total to 56, which is 14 more than any other team in the majors.

With Cleveland leading 1-0, the Indians scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth. That inning included two hits, two walks, two errors, a passed ball, a double challenge -- one by each manager, on the same play -- and play being halted for about 30 seconds in the middle of the frame when the outfield sprinklers turned on.

Michael Brantley drew a bases loaded walk to give the Indians a 2-0 lead. With the bases loaded, Carlos Santana hit a seemingly harmless fly ball to shallow left field to score a run, pushing Cleveland's lead to 3-0.

Another run scored when, with the bases loaded and no outs, Bradley Zimmer hitter a grounder to second baseman Chad Pinder, who threw home for a force out. Catcher Josh Phegley threw to first attempting to complete the double play, but Zimmer was ruled safe.

Santana, who was the runner from second base, attempted to score. First baseman Yonder Alonso threw home, and Phegley appeared to tag Santana, who was ruled out.

Oakland manager Bob Melvin challenged the call on Zimmer at first and Cleveland manager Terry Francona challenged the out call on Santana at the plate.

After a video review, the safe call on Zimmer was upheld, and the out call on Santana was reversed, giving the Indians a 4-0 lead. Third baseman Ryon Healy's error, his second of the inning, on a grounder hit by Daniel Robertson, allowed another run to score.

The Indians added three more runs in the seventh inning off reliever John Axford.

NOTES: Prior to the game the Indians activated RHP Corey Kluber from the disabled list and optioned RHP Shawn Armstrong to Triple-A Columbus. ... Indians DH Edwin Encarnacion, who has a 10-game hitting streak, but started 51 of the Indians' first 52 games, was given a day off Thursday. ... Indians RHP Josh Tomlin, who will start Friday in Kansas City, is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA vs. the Royals this year and 10-4, 3.94 in his career. ... A's 2B Chad Pinder, who had three hits, including two home runs and three RBIs while hitting ninth in Wednesday's game, was moved up sixth in the order Thursday. ... A's RHP Jesse Hahn pitched 5 1/3 innings, throwing 75 pitches on a rehab assignment for Class-A Stockton on Wednesday. Hahn (strained right triceps) has been on the 10-day disabled list since May 24. He could be activated sometime next week.