Indians stop Oakland 4-2
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Bradley Zimmer had three hits including a home run on All-star Chris Bassitt’s first pitch, and the Cleveland Indians beat the Oakland Athletics 4-2 on Sunday.
Daniel Johnson, who grew up about 30 minutes north of the Coliseum and had a group of family and friends in attendance, connected for his first career home run and made a sparkling defensive play to help the Indians win their fifth in six games.
“It’s a nice way to start the game,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. “He and Daniel Johnson, that was pretty much our offense. Both of them swung the bat well.”
Zach Plesac pitched six strong innings to win in his second start since breaking his right thumb while taking off his jersey in late May.
Seth Brown hit his 11th home run for Oakland. The A’s have lost five of their past six series.
Bassitt
(10-3) had won 10 consecutive decisions before his first loss since April 6. Bassitt had eight strikeouts and allowed three runs in seven innings.
Batting atop the order for the second time this season, Zimmer hit his second career leadoff home run to get the Indians started, added a bloop RBI single in the fifth, then singled in Oscar Mercado in the ninth after Mercardo reached on a throwing error by third baseman Matt Chapman.
Johnson, who flew out to deep right to end the second with runners on first and third, drove in the go-ahead run with his home run to center on a 3-2 pitch from Bassitt.
Earlier Johnson made a sparkling sliding catch running toward the right field line to rob Sean Murphy of a hit in the second.
Plesac (5-3) allowed two runs and four hits in six innings.
Nick Wittgren and Phil Maton retired three batters apiece. Bryan Shaw pitched the ninth for his second save.