Oakland outlast Cleveland, 6-4 behind 3 home runs

Cleveland- The Oakland Athletics win game one of the three game series, by a final of 6-4. The Cleveland Indians did their best to fight back in this one, after falling behind 3-0 early on. Every time Cleveland seemed to cut into the Athletics lead, Oakland did what they needed to do to extend their lead.

The Indians starter Carlos Carrasco suffered his fourth loss of the season, despite only allowing three runs on seven hits. Jurickson Profar broke up Carrasco’s 13 scoreless inning streak with the A’s first home run of the game in the second inning. Oakland would go on to hit two more home runs, but none more important than the two run shot in the ninth inning.

The Indians cut the Oakland lead down to 4-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to some timely hitting by Jose Ramirez. A pair of walks by Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana set up the RBI single by Ramirez, who finished (2-4 double, RBI single) on Monday night. It was the Matt Chapman home run in the top of the ninth that created the separation Oakland needed.

Francisco Lindor hit a two out home run in the bottom of the ninth, but Cleveland wasn’t able to cut into the Athletics lead anymore. The A’s are now 1-3 against Cleveland this season, and 7-3 versus the Indians over their last 10 meetings. Oakland has won four straight games, while the Tribe’s two game winning streak was snapped Monday.

The two teams meet again tomorrow evening when Trevor Bauer (4-2 3.76 ERA) and Chris Bassitt (2-1 1.93 ERA) take the mound. Bassitt is played collegiate baseball down the road at the University of Akron, and grew up in Toledo. Bauer on the other hand is coming off a no decision against Baltimore, allowing a career high seven runs, in just five innings. Cleveland is currently (3-2) on this 11 game home-stand.