A’s Take Two Of Three From Cleveland
May 12, 2019, 4:12 PM | Updated: 4:18 pm
(Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
(Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
It was a walk-off weekend for the Oakland Athletics.
Athletics reliever Ryan Butcher gave up a go-ahead home run to Cleveland catcher Roberto Perez to give Cleveland a 5-3 advantage that would go on to be the final on Sunday afternoon. Many Oakland fans aren’t thinking about Sunday’s series finale after the fireworks from the first two games, as Oakland has claimed their second series win in a row.
Oakland has now won four of their past six games after falling to a season worst six games under the .500 mark.
Game 1: Friday, May 10 – Athletics 4, Indians 3 (F/12)
Following six incredible innings from Frankie Montas (6 IP, 2 R, 7 K’s), Lou Trivino couldn’t hold a one-run lead as he surrendered the tying run to Cleveland in the 7th inning. The score would remain in a 3-3 tie until Matt Chapman blasted his first career walk off home run to give the Athletics a 4-3 win.
Chapman went 2-for-5, while catcher Josh Phegley went 3-for-5 with an RBI.
Game 2: Saturday, May 11: Athletics 3, Indians 2
Manager Bob Melvin opted to go with a bullpen day on Saturday, and it worked out as Oakland stymied the Cleveland offense.
Five Athletics out of the bullpen combined for a final line of nine innings pitched, two runs, and 10 strikeouts. Blake Treinen provided the only hiccup when he came into the game in the ninth inning and gave up the tying run with two outs in the ninth.
Oakland would respond in the same way they did on Friday: a walk-off hit. Ramon Laureano blooped a single in-between Cleveland second baseman Jason Kipnis and right fielder Jordan Luplow as Matt Olson came in to score the winning run. The Oakland offense struggled on Saturday, finishing with four hits as Indians ace Trevor Bauer gave up two hits and struck out 10 over seven innings of action. It wouldn’t matter in the end, as Oakland picked up the series win.
