Graveman earns 10th win, Athletics take series from Indians

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Trevor Bauer paced slowly off the mound after a disastrous second inning, one position player after the next passing him on his way back to the Cleveland Indians dugout.

Moments earlier, a bad inning turned into a disastrous one when first baseman Carlos Santana lost what would have been an inning-ending popup in the sun that went for a two-run error.

The five-run inning turned out to be the difference as Kendall Graveman pitched into the seventh inning to become Oakland's first 10-game-winner this season, and the Athletics beat the Indians 5-1 on Wednesday to win the series.

Khris Davis tripled and scored as part of Oakland's five-run second inning off Bauer (9-6).

The inning was especially frustrating because for the most part, Bauer felt he executed his pitches.

"Two of the hits were broken-bat hits on balls that weren't even remotely close to being strikes," Bauer said. "It's like, you try to get them to chase out of the (strike) zone and they turn into hits. You just try to execute pitches and keep going."

The A's had already scored three runs in the inning when Santana lost Danny Valencia's infield popup.

"I thought I was out of it," Bauer said. "I tried to minimize and it didn't work out so, I tried to go out there and keep throwing innings after that, unfortunately we weren't able to come back today. We've done that a lot lately."

Santana's error followed a diving play that robbed Brett Eibner of a hit earlier in the inning.

"Things happen in baseball," Santana said. "I made the (diving) play and then the popup. The way I think about now, tomorrow is a new day."

Bauer gave up nine hits over 6 2-3 innings. After striking out a career-high 13 in his last start, he fanned three.

"I will say, to his credit, when it looks like it's going to be an 'unload the bullpen day,' he stayed out there going into the seventh inning," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "I give him credit for that because sometimes you don't see a guy pitch that deep after that kind of an inning."

Roberto Perez homered while Jose Ramirez and Lonnie Chisenhall had two hits apiece for Cleveland.

An A's team in disarray going into the series took two of three games from the AL Central leaders, who had swept a three-game set from Oakland in July.

"They just flat out beat us this series with some good pitching," Indians designated hitter Mike Napoli said. "We just couldn't get anything going."

Cleveland went into the day with the best record in the American League, but was held to one run for the third consecutive game while being outscored 14-3 in the series.

"Hopefully we just had like three days of amnesia," Francona said.

"I think those things happen. Not fun when it does, but it happens. Fortunately we won one game 1-0, but we have to give them some credit. They did a number on us. It's not always one thing."

Graveman (10-8) allowed six hits in 6 2-3 innings and won for the ninth time in his last 11 decisions.

Mark Rzepczynski, Ryan Dull and Ryan Madson combined to retire the final seven batters.

"To hold a team and a lineup like that to a couple runs ... it's fun to watch," Graveman said. "Guys are starting to step up and do some good things in big situations."

Ryon Healy, Max Muncy and Chad Pinder drove in runs for Oakland in the second inning.

"It's been kind of a theme for us this year," A's manager Bob Melvin said. " I can't figure it out. There's certain days and certain series that we can move the line offensively. We just don't do it consistently enough."

PERFECTLY PLACED

Perez homered with two outs in the seventh. The ball hit off the top of the wall in right field and bounced right back into Valencia's glove. Umpires initially ruled it a hit, then changed it to a home run - Perez's first of the season - after going to replay.

"That particular part of the fence, behind it, it's out of play, so I'm guessing that's what they were calling," Melvin said. "It's the only place in the ballpark where you have that metal piece behind it, and it ended up affecting us."

UP NEXT

Indians: RHP Josh Tomlin (11-7) pitches the opener in Texas on Thursday. He was roughed up for eight runs in 3 2-3 innings the last time he faced the Rangers on May 30.