A’s take another from Tribe

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Josh Donaldson hit a three-run homer and five Oakland Athletics pitchers combined to beat the Indians, 8-4, on Wednesday night.

Oakland took over the AL wild-card lead by one game over Baltimore with its 11th win in 13 games as Travis Blackley (5-3) gave up two runs over 52/3 innings. Ryan Cook got four outs for his 13th save.

Donaldson connected off rookie Corey Kluber (0-3) in the fourth inning for a 3-2 lead. Shoddy fielding by the Indians, losers of 13 of 14, helped the Athletics later extend the lead.

Jason Donald’s homer in the third broke the Indians’ 24-inning scoreless streak, but they fell to 5-26 since July 27.

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was ejected in the first inning by plate umpire Gary Darling, who took exception to the All-Star arguing a called third strike. The whiff made Cabrera 4 for 36 (.111) in his last 10 games.

Cleveland, scoreless in 52 of its last 57 innings, scored more than three runs for the first time in 10 games.

Yoenis Cespedis and Josh Reddick each had three of Oakland’s 15 hits as the Athletics moved to 7-0 against the Indians since April 22, outscoring them 44-14.

Donald’s homer was the Indians’ first run against the Athletics in 29 innings. They hadn’t scored against them since the ninth inning of an 8-5 loss in Oakland on Aug. 18.

Ezequiel Carrera then tripled and scored on a groundout by Jason Kipnis.

Donaldson made it 3-2 in the fourth, hitting a two-out, 3-2 pitch from Kluber for his third homer.

Kluber’s defense deserted him in the sixth. With Reddick on first with a one-out infield single, he got Donaldson to ground to third. Jack Hannahan fielded the bouncer and threw to second to start a possible double play, but the ball went through second baseman Donald’s legs, putting runners on first and third. Donald was charged with the error for failing to get the low but accurate throw.

Derek Norris followed with an RBI grounder to first baseman Matt LaPorta, who stepped on first for the out. LaPorta turned to throw to second for an inning-ending double play, but instead held the ball before throwing home, too high and too late to get Reddick sliding in from third.