The Sports Xchange
Jul 16, 2017
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Khris Davis hit a two-run, walk-off homer, powering the Oakland Athletics to a 5-3 victory against the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night at the Oakland Coliseum.
Davis hit reliever Bryan Shaw's 3-2 fastball over the right-center field fence for his 25th home run and second walk-off hit of the season. The walk-off homer was the second of his career.
Yonder Alonso led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk against left-hander Andrew Miller (3-3), who gave way to Shaw, and Davis ended the game.
Oakland rookie third baseman Matt Chapman hit his first two career home runs, solo shots in the third and eighth innings. Chapman went 3-for-3, scored three runs and also doubled. He had multi extra-base hits in a game for the first time in his career.
Chapman tied it 3-3 with a leadoff blast to center off Corey Kluber in the eighth inning. Chapman hit Kluber's 93.4 mph sinker an estimated 455 feet, lining the ball off the facing high above the center-field fence.
Edwin Encarnacion hit his 19th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth inning for the Indians. He went 1-for-3 with a walk, scored twice and drove in two.
Kluber allowed three runs on five hits, including two home runs, over 7 1/3 innings. He struck out 12 and walked none. Kluber struck out 12 and walked one over six innings in an 8-0 victory against the A's on June 1.
A's rookie right-hander Paul Blackburn allowed three runs on five hits over six innings in his third straight quality start to begin his major league career. Blackburn struck out four, walked four and threw a wild pitch in a no-decision. Coming into the game, he had only two walks over 13 2/3 innings and owned a 0.66 ERA.
Liam Hendriks, Daniel Coulombe and Ryan Madson (2-4) each threw one perfect inning in relief for the A's.
The Indians broke a 2-2 tie with a run in the sixth. Encarnacion led off with a walk, moved to third on Jose Ramirez's single to center and scored on Carlos Santana's ground out.
Chapman gave the A's a 1-0 lead when he sent Kluber's 2-1 cutter over the left-center field fence with one out in the third inning.
Cleveland responded with two runs in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead.
Michael Brantley worked a leadoff walk and Encarnacion followed with a two-run shot to left field, launching Blackburn's 0-1 slider over the left field fence.
Oakland pulled even with a run in the fifth. Chapman lined an opposite-field double down the right field line with two outs, and Rajai Davis brought him home with a sharp, opposite-field single to right.
NOTES: A's RHP Kendall Graveman (strained right shoulder) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Nashville. Graveman, who has been on the disabled list since May 26, said he expects to make three or four rehab starts and be ready to rejoin the A's in early August. He threw 60 pitches Friday at Class A Stockton during a live batting practice session and hit as high as 95 mph on the radar gun. ... A's INF/OF Chad Pinder (strained left hamstring) ran the bases Saturday for the first time since going on the disabled list June 24. He'll run the bases one more time then will likely begin a rehab assignment this coming week. ... Cleveland CF Bradley Zimmer hit leadoff for the fifth time this season and the second straight game against Oakland. He went 0-for-2 but walked twice and stole a base. Zimmer has hit eighth 22 times, ninth and seventh five times apiece and sixth twice. "We've told him, 'Just be the hitter you are,'" Indians manager Terry Francona said. "The skill set we think translates. If he gets on he's a threat on the bases." ... Former A's star Rickey Henderson threw out the ceremonial first pitch on "Rickey Henderson Day" at the Coliseum.