Jed Lowrie more than made up for a costly error in the first with a go-ahead, three-run home run in the eighth inning that sealed the A’s 6-3 win over the Cleveland Indians, their sixth straight victory.
A’s starter Frankie Montas took an inning to settle in. He gave up two hits, both in the first inning. Bradley Zimmer singled to start the inning and, after striking out Ahmed Rosario, Jose Ramirez drew a walk. Franmil Reyes hit into a potential inning-ending double play, but Lowrie botched the throw to first, allowing a run to score and the inning to continue. Harold Ramirez hit an RBI single to extend Cleveland’s lead 2-0. Montas recovered, not allowing a hit through the next five innings.
Montas went six with six strikeouts and three walks — the two others were extinguished with a pair of double plays.
Oakland struggled to leave the infield against Cal Quantrill, who’d given the A’s fits in his start against them in July. They finally found grass when Yan Gomes followed Lowrie’s leadoff walk with a single to right field. With runners on the corners and no outs, Quantrill was pulled for reliever Bryan Shaw.
Designated hitter Mitch Moreland’s ground out was enough to cut Cleveland’s lead in half. Matt Chapman’s ground ball up the middle sneaked past the infield to score the game-tying run.
In relief, Jake Diekman got two outs down but issued a walk to Myles Straw. Oscar Mercado made it pay with an RBI double to give Cleveland a 3-2 lead in the seventh.
But the A’s fought back against the Indians bullpen — and they didn’t have to face the high-velocity hurlers they did in Tuesday’s comeback win. Elvis Andrus tied it up in the eighth with a solo home run, his third of the year, off Nick Sandlin.
After hitting Mark Canha with a pitch, Starling Marte reached on an infield hit and Sandlin departed with an apparent injury. Lowrie hit the towering three-run home run to give Oakland their ultimate lead.
