Davis’ HR in 9th lifts A’s past Indians
OAKLAND – Oakland Athletics slugger Khris Davis didn’t mind much being skipped over for a post-game cream pie to the face and Gatorade bath following his game-winning home run.
Seeing rookie Matt Chapman get the full treatment after hitting his first two home runs in the majors was much more satisfying – and clean.
Davis hit his 25th homer, a two-run shot in the ninth inning that lifted the A’s to a 5-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night.
“He deserved it,” Davis said after watching Chapman get doused. “There’s many more to come where he’s going. That won’t be the first or the last.”
Both of Chapman’s home runs came off Cleveland starter Corey Kluber, who struck out 12 and was otherwise dominant over 7 ⁄ innings. Oakland’s rookie third baseman homered in the third, doubled and scored in the fifth then homered again leading off the eighth.
“I threw two balls right down the middle and he took advantage of it, not really any secret to it,” Kluber said. “You put two balls on a tee like that to major league hitters and usually they’re going to take advantage of it.”
Rajai Davis added an RBI single for the A’s, who have won two straight over the AL Central-leading Indians since the All-Star break.
Cleveland All-Star reliever Andrew Miller (3-3) walked Yonder Alonso to begin the ninth. After Bryan Shaw was brought in to replace Miller, Davis worked a full count then fouled off a pitch before lining a two-run home run over the wall in right center.
It is the A’s seventh walk-off win of the season and the second game-ending hit this year by Davis.
“I didn’t think it was going out,” Davis said. “I was happy that it was in the gap and Yonder might have had a chance to score. It was just putting our team in a good position to win the ballgame and it just snuck over.”
Ryan Madson (2-4) retired three batters for the win.
Edwin Encarnacion hit his 19th home run and scored twice for the Indians while Carlos Santana drove in a run and inched closer to Carlos Baerga for second place on the club’s all-time RBI list for switch-hitters.
One day after being shut out on four hits, the Indians managed only five off A’s rookie starter Paul Blackburn and three relievers.
Encarnacion homered in the fourth, a towering tworun blast to left, in the fourth.
RICKEY’S DAY Former A’s great and Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson was honored during a pregame ceremony as part of Rickey Henderson Day. Players from both teams, along with thousands of fans wearing white Henderson jerseys, stood and applauded as the all-time steals leader strolled to the mound and threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The field at the Coliseum was renamed in Henderson’s honor earlier this year.
TRAINER’S ROOM Kendall Graveman emerged from his bullpen session fine and is expected to begin a rehab assignment next week. The righthander has been out with a strained pitching shoulder since May 26.