Davis hits 33rd home run in A's 9-1 win over Indians
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The Athletics used a steady stream of big hits from three rookies and one big blast from a veteran slugger to end their latest losing skid.
It's not enough to take the sting out of Oakland's worst season in nearly 20 years, not by any stretch.
Given all that's gone on over the week with his ballclub, manager Bob Melvin gladly welcomed it.
Khris Davis hit a three-run homer and scored three times while rookies Chad Pinder and Bruce Maxwell recorded their first career RBIs, and the A's beat the Cleveland Indians 9-1 on Tuesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.
"It's fun to watch," Melvin said. "Guys getting their first RBIs, playing full games, not subbing guys out, not hitting for guys. You think back and remember what your first RBI and so forth was like so it adds a little bit more to it."
Davis had struck out in six consecutive at-bats before hitting his 33rd home run of the season off starter Danny Salazar, an opposite field shot that gave the A's an early lead. That's the most by an Oakland player since Jack Cust hit 33 in 2008.
Danny Valencia added two hits in his first game back in the A's lineup after being fined following a clubhouse fight with teammate Billy Butler while rookie Ryon Healy had three hits including two doubles.
"We've been focused on a lot of negatives lately, and we don't have a lot of wins," Valencia said. "But actually we've had a lot of positive things, especially with the younger guys."
One of those younger guys is left-hander Sean Manaea.
Manaea (5-8) allowed three hits and one run over seven innings for his second win since June 29. Manaea walked two and fanned eight to become the first A's rookie pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts since Dan Straily in 2013.
Chris Gimenez homered for the Indians, who went into the day with the best record in the AL.
One day after being shut out for the eighth time this season, Oakland bounced back with one of its best offensive games in weeks to end a four-game losing streak to Cleveland.
Eight A's had at least one hit while six had one RBI or more.
Yonder Alonso had a sacrifice fly in the second inning and Pinder added a run-scoring single to push the A's lead to 5-0.
Salazar (11-5) left after giving up a leadoff double in the fifth. The right-hander allowed six runs to match a career high and walked three with two strikeouts in his second start since coming off the disabled list.
"I thought he was up with too many fastballs and because of that it didn't really seem like they had to respect his off speed pitches," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "The hope is that he gets some repetition including side days and stuff and gets back to the Danny we saw in the first half."
Manaea didn't allow a hit until Mike Napoli's two-out single in the fourth. Napoli was thrown out at second base trying to extend the hit into a double.
Gimenez homered leading off the sixth.
DEFENSIVE GEMS
Valencia made the first of two big defensive plays when he hustled to chase down Napoli's single to right then threw him out at second base. In the eighth, A's center fielder Jake Smolinski made a spectacular diving catch to rob pinch-hitter Lonnie Chisenhall of extra bases.
"I didn't think he had a chance at it," Melvin said of Smolinski's catch. "When I turned and looked up he was basically full speed then made a complete headlong dive to get it. First out of the inning, that's a big play."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: Former closer Sean Doolittle (strained left shoulder) will make one more rehab appearance for Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday and could rejoin Oakland shortly thereafter. ... SS Marcus Semien will miss the next two days to be with his wife and newborn child. Melvin expects the team to make a roster move to replace Semien, who could wind up on the paternity list.
UP NEXT
Indians: RHP Trevor Bauer (9-5) faces Oakland for the second time this season on Wednesday. Bauer left with no decision after allowing two home runs over 5 1-3 innings against the A's on July 29.
Athletics: Kendall Graveman (9-8) pitches for Oakland and has eight wins in his last 10 decisions but the right-hander is winless in three career starts against the Indians.