Stephen Ellison

A's Scrape Out Victory Over Indians, Run Win Streak to Five

CLEVELAND (AP) Pinch-hitter Mark Canha's two-run homer off struggling Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer in the third inning sent the Oakland Athletics to their fifth straight win, 5-3 over the Indians on Tuesday night.

Canha replaced injured slugger Khris Davis and connected off Bauer (4-3), who managed to hang around for six innings despite early wildness. The right-hander is winless since April 30 and his outings have become more concerning. The Indians were hoping for more while waiting for injured starters Corey Kluber and Mike Clevinger to return.

Bauer walked four, struck out five and hit three while throwing a season-high 123 pitches.

Oakland reliever Liam Hendricks (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings and Blake Treinen, the A's fourth reliever, worked the ninth for his ninth save in 11 tries.

Davis, who entered with 12 homers, has been slowed by a bruised left hip sustained on May 5 in Pittsburgh. Manager Bob Melvin has rested him whenever possible, but Davis isn't improving and the A's are putting him on the injured list.

Davis will undergo an MRI in Cleveland on Wednesday. He acknowledged being frustrated at the lack of progress.

Jurickson Profar homered in the eighth as Oakland improved to 7-1 against AL Central teams this season. The A's are 59-20 vs. Cleveland, Chicago, Minnesota, Detroit and Kansas City dating to Aug. 23, 2016.

Francisco Lindor and Carlos Santana hit solo homers for Cleveland.

With Bauer struggling to find his rhythm, Canha hit his third career pinch-homer to give the A's a 3-1 lead in the third.

Batting for Davis, last year's major league home run king, Canha fell behind 1-2 before reaching out of the strike zone to push a four-seam fastball over the wall in right.

Santana pulled the Indians to 3-2 in the third with his eighth homer, and Cleveland closed to 4-3 while chasing Bassitt in the fourth on Oscar Mercado's RBI double.

But the Indians only got one hit after the fourth and didn't get a runner to second over the final five innings.

Bauer lost command - and control - of his pitches in the second inning, when he loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter before walking No. 9 hitter Josh Phegley on four pitches to force in Oakland's first run. He got out of the jam by retiring Marcus Semien on a fielder's choice.

Lindor homered on starter Chris Bassitt's fourth pitch, driving it 416 feet to right-center for his 14th career leadoff homer.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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