Cespedes and Colon Lead Athletics Past Indians 8-5

Despite a four run 9th inning rally by the Indians, the A’s hung on to win the ballgame, and the series, 8-5.

Grant Balfour had to come in in the bottom of the 9th to clean up the mess Scribner and Blevins caused, to earn his eleventh save of the season, but Bartolo Colon was stellar; allowing just five hits in eight strong innings giving up his only blemish of the night to Indians catcher Carlos Santana via the long-ball, and notching his tenth win of the season.

With a man on and two outs in the bottom of the 3rd, Yoenis Cespedes smacked his 16th homer of the year, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI, now heating up at the right time.

Josh Donaldson continues to impress, putting up two more hits in five at-bats, knocking in his eleventh of the season, but it was Coco Crisp (hitless in his previous three at-bats) who broke the game open knocking in two in what was another electric 8th inning in Oakland.  He also scored a run in the A's first big inning in the bottom of the 3rd.

Josh Reddick is staying hot as well, going 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

With a win tonight, Oakland pulls ahead of Detroit in the AL Wild Card hunt to stand only half a game behind the tied Tampa Bay and Baltimore clubs. 

Though Oakland is keeping pace with Texas, the Rangers took the 2-1 victory against a battered Toronto line-up.  The A’s now stand five games behind Texas in the AL West.

Jarrod Parker (7-7 with a 3.71 ERA) will take on the Tribe in the series finale at 1:05 P.M.

Posted in: Bartolo Colon,carlos santana,coco crisp,Grant Balfour,Josh Donaldson,josh reddick,Oakland Athletics,texas rangers,Yoenis Cespedes