Chavez leads A’s in rout of Indians

Associated Press

OAKLAND, CALIF.

Eric Chavez has been through so much physically in recent years he won’t allow himself to get overly excited about one big day with the bat.

It’s a constant process for Oakland’s converted designated hitter to keep himself ready: warming up, stretching, hitting the weight room after games before finally recovering. Whatever it takes.

Chavez hit a two-run double and also singled in run to help Gio Gonzalez win for the first time in three starts, and the Athletics pounded the Cleveland Indians 11-0 on Sunday to take the series.

“Does it feel good? Yeah. Does it mean I’m going to go on a hot streak the next month? I don’t know anything about that,” Chavez said. “There’s been really good days and really bad days.

“It feels like I’ve been seeing the ball really good all year, but I’ve been missing so many pitches. I’m still trying to find that flatline where I can just worry about baseball.”

Kevin Kouzmanoff returned to the A’s lineup and added a three-run double. He sat out Saturday to give him time to heal after fouling a pitch off his foot. Kouzmanoff’s fifth-inning hit chased Justin Masterson (0-3).

Eric Patterson homered and hit a two-run triple, matching his career high with three RBIs.

For Chavez, this was an encouraging sign after several frustrating, injury-filled seasons. The six-time Gold Glove third baseman is now the A’s designated hitter batting in the cleanup spot.

Chavez, limited to eight games in his injury-shortened 2009 campaign, drove in three runs for the first time since June 3, 2008, against Detroit. He underwent season-ending back surgery last June and has had five operations since Sept. 5, 2007, including two microdiscectomy surgeries in different spots in his back.

The double snapped an 0-for-17 stretch by Chavez with runners in scoring position.

“It’s going to continue to get better,” he said of his road back. “I knew early on it would be an up-and-down ride for me. As long as I can continue climbing that wall.”

Jake Fox and Adam Rosales each singled in a run as the A’s did plenty to support Gonzalez (2-1), who escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth but otherwise was hardly challenged. Gonzalez bounced back after he was tagged for five runs and three hits in 41/3 innings of a 7-3 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday.