Jimenez sharp in Tribe’s 3-2 win over Athletics

Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif.

Once Ubaldo Jimenez got through the fifth without allowing a hit, he began thinking back to his no-hitter at Atlanta in April 2010.

He couldn’t help it. Jimenez walked six batters that day.

He carried a no-hit bid into the sixth Saturday night, backed by home runs from Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn as the Cleveland Indians beat the Oakland Athletics 7-1.

Jimenez (9-7) didn’t allow a hit until Josh Donaldson lined a run-scoring single to shallow center with two out in the sixth, ending the pitcher’s night after 105 pitches. He struck out eight and walked five.

“Since I got in the fifth inning, it brought a lot of good memories of my no-hitter in Atlanta,” Jimenez said. “Especially when I walked six guys in that no-hitter.”

Asdrubal Cabrera drove in two runs and Michael Brantley hit a pair of doubles for Cleveland.

A day after the Indians matched a season high with 13 stranded base runners, they took advantage of timely opportunities.

Swisher drove the first pitch from Dan Straily over the right-field fence for his 13th home run, staking Jimenez to an early lead in the first. Cabrera later added a run-scoring single before hitting an RBI double in the sixth.

Pitching on six days’ rest, Jimenez bounced back after taking a 7-2 loss to the Angels on Aug. 10 for his second straight defeat.

He hoped he could have talked manager Terry Francona into staying in the game if he’d kept the no-hitter going into the seventh.

The A’s drew two walks from the right-hander in each of the third and fourth innings but failed to capitalize.