Walks take toll on Tribe pitching

Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif.

Even when Cleveland pitchers keep the walks to a minimum, they still seem to cause maximum damage.

Josh Donaldson hit a tiebreaking single with the bases loaded in the eighth inning and the Oakland Athletics rallied from four runs down to beat the Indians 6-4 on Friday night.

Shelley Duncan spotted Indians’ starter Zach McAllister to a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning with his first career grand slam but a walk to Brandon Moss in the bottom of the frame sparked a three-run A’s rally.

“The walks continue to hurt us,” Indians’ manager Manny Acta said. “There may have only been one or two but they both led to rallies.”

The Indians lead the AL with 415 walks issued. They also lead in runs allowed with 618.

“There’s a correlation there,” Acta said. “You’ve got to make them hit their way on.”

In the eighth, Joe Smith (7-3) walked Chris Carter to lead off the inning. He scored the go-ahead run.

“You have to be able to put people away,” Smith said. “When you give us the ball we’ve been pretty good all year. I blew it tonight but if they give me the ball tomorrow I’ll go out and battle.”

The A’s pulled within five games of first-place Texas in the AL West and a half-game of the second wild-card spot.

Asdrubal Cabrera had two hits for the Indians, who lost their third straight and fell to 10-24 since the All-Star Break.

“It seems like a lot of losses have been more frustrating than others,” Duncan said. “We need to turn this thing around.”

Cleveland managed only one hit and two baserunners following Duncan’s grand slam off Milone in the fourth.