Blackburn keeps A’s rolling in return home
OAKLAND >> The A’s returned from a triumphant road trip showing they hadn’t lost their touch, getting a strong performance from righthander Paul Blackburn in a 3-1 win Friday night over the Cleveland Indians at the Coliseum.
Blackburn out-pitched Indians starter Trevor Bauer, who surrendered twoout RBI hits from Marcus Semien and Khris Davis runs in the second and sixth innings. Blackburn gave up no runs in 6 1/3 innings before giving way to the bullpen.
A solo home run by Jed Lowrie (his 13th) in the bottom of the eighth inning provided an extra run for closer Blake Treinen to work with. Treinen got the job done for his 21st save but not without drama. The Indians had two men on when he got Jason Kipnis to fly to right to end the game.
“In games like that, it feels like a 10-run homer, because they have guys coming to the plate that will get your attention,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “It was paramount. It gives you a little wiggle room.”
Coming off an 8-2 trip, the A’s have won 11 of their past 13 and improved to 4538 as the American League Central leading Indians fell to 44-35 before a paid crowd of 14,823.
Cleveland got its lone run in the eighth inning against A’s reliever Yusmeiro Petit when Francisco Lindor hit a two-out double off the centerfield fence to drive in a run.
Blackburn (2-2) looked nothing like a pitcher who would last into the seventh inning after it took him 47 pitches to get through the first two.
“For me, it was just trying to find a tempo and rhythm, something I think I’ve struggled with,” Blackburn said. “Once I kind of get over that hump, I feel like everything is more put together. I’m not going step by step, it’s more fluid and athletic.”
Considering the caliber of the opponent, it was Blackburn’s best start after his June 7 debut when pitched six innings of one-run baseball against the Kansas City Royals.
“All of a sudden from the third on, he was real efficient,” Melvin said. “It got a lot better as far as where he was throwing the baseball.”
Bauer (7-6) came in having struck out 10 or more batters in his eight previous games and was among the American League leaders in earned run average at 2.44. He lasted 6 2/3 innings with one walk and eight strikeouts.
However, Bauer left a couple of breaking balls over the plate to Semien and Davis, who drove in their runs with two-out hits. Semien, who was 2 for 3, had his first two-hit game against Bauer as big league player.
“My hits were off curveballs,” Semien said. “He’s a guy that can throw any pitch at any time. Just trying to get a strike to hit. Davis also got a curveball. We were fortunate enough to get hangers.”
With Lou Trivino getting a day of rest, the A’s went with Ryan Buchter, Petit and finally Treinen to close it out.
And Treinen wasn’t his usual self, giving up a solid single to Jose Ramirez to lead off the inning and a deep fly to center by Edwin Encarnacion that Mark Canha ran down. Encarnacion was visibly distressed the ball didn’t carry in the night air, kicking first base as he went by.
Treinen also walked Rajai Davis before finally getting Kipnis to fly to right.
“I was a little shaky,”
Treinen said. “You don’t always have your best stuff and location. Today that was the case, and I was thankful guys made plays in the outfield for me. I know that’s not the last time they’ll pick me up.”
The A’s are at home for just four more games before taking to the road again, and Treinen was gratified to see the club playing so well at this point of the season, although both Houston and Seattle have hefty leads on them in the American League West.
“It’s nice to make a push getting past the midway point,” Treinen said. “This team is very talented. We’ve got young guys still figuring it out and coming in to their own. One of them, Paul, threw the ball incredibly well. He had great command and good stuff that moved late. For him to go out there and give that to us was huge.”
• Matt Chapman took swings off a batting tee,
hopes to take a full-on batting practice this weekend and if all goes well, Melvin said Chapman could be back when San Diego comes to town on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Chapman went on the disabled list June 15 with a right thumb contusion, an injury which bothered him last year and caused him to get a cortisone shot during spring training. His most recent injection was Monday.
“Today was the first day that I hit since I got the cortisone shot and it felt good,” Chapman said. “Only 30 swings off the tee, so really not too big of a sample size, but it felt good. I think we can progress from there.”
Chapman described the injury as “a bone growth in my hand causing bruising and swelling, so they’re hoping to calm that area down.”
Before the game, Chapman also took ground balls at third base and had no difficulty on throws to first
base.
• Pitcher Trevor Cahill, on the disabled list since June 11 with an Achilles’ strain, threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session.
“Felt good,” Melvin said. “We’ll either throw another lengthy bullpen with him or potentially a simulated type situation with him.”
The news wasn’t as good regarding Andrew Triggs, on the DL with right arm nerve irritation since May 18.
“Triggs is a little bump in the road,” Melvin said. “His rehab has been stalled again. He’s still feeling a little bit of tingling in his fingers so he’s going to see another doctor, get a second opinion, but we’ve had to shut him down.”
• Davis is considering taking part in this year’s Home Run Derby on July 16 at the All-Star game in Washington, D.C., and Melvin is all for it. Melvin said he’s softened his position on the derby and its potential effect on a hitter’s swing.
“I used to have some trepidation about that, but you know what, it’s a fun thing, and if they want to do it, I’m all for it,” Melvin said.