OAKLAND, Calif. _ If emotion and drama can springboard a baseball team, the A's find themselves in a good spot about now.
They have had plenty of emotion and drama since returning home from a one-win trip through Toronto, Boston and Pittsburgh.
Saturday, Oakland won for the fourth time in five games on the homestand, beating Cleveland, 3-2, behind more brilliance from the bullpen (save for the ninth inning) and another walk-off celebration in the infield as Ramon Laureano's bloop single to right knocked in the decisive run.
On a day in which the A's used an "opener" for the first time this season _ Liam Hendriks pitched a scoreless first inning before scheduled starter Aaron Brooks took over _ Oakland had turned back Cleveland at every turn until the visitors evened the score in the ninth inning off closer Blake Treinen.
But that only set the stage for more drama.
Matt Olson opened the bottom of the ninth with a walk. Kendrys Morales followed with a single to center, and Stephen Piscotty's sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third.
Laureano then hit a soft fly ball that found a hole in right.
Nick Hundley gave the A's a 2-1 lead with an exciting trip around the bases.
The catcher smashed a ball that caromed off the left-field wall with two out in the fifth inning. Jake Bauers chased it down, but his throw to third sailed off line for an error. Hundley ran home to break a 1-1 tie.
Cleveland threatened in its next turn to bat as Jason Kipnis opened the sixth with a double and Jose Ramirez followed with a walk, ending the day for Brooks.
Yusmeiro Petit sauntered in and put an immediate end to the rally. Carlos Santana popped out to third, Bauers struck out and Jordan Luplow flew out to center.
Cleveland had more chances in the seventh and eighth, but Lou Trivino held the lead after taking over from Petit.
The A's grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first when Marcus Semien reached on an error, stole second and scored when Matt Chapman singled to left.
Leonys Martin provided Cleveland's only run when he homered with two outs in the fifth off Brooks.
Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer threw 122 pitches in seven innings, striking out 10 while not allowing an earned run.
The A's first three wins on the homestand came courtesy of Mike Fiers' no-hitter Tuesday, Stephen Piscotty's 13th-inning home run Wednesday and Chapman's 12th-inning home run Friday.
Saturday, the drama continued.
