Indians make first inning hold up

Oakland Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt works against the Cleveland Indians in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 30, 2015, in Oakland, Calif. He said it was the best he’s felt and indicated he intended to pitch before the season ended. “I think I’ll be ready to face hitters sooner than later”. After an Urshela K, next up was Michael Bourn, who had 12 extra-base hits all season going into tonight, but wouldn’t ya know, he picked the ideal time for his 13th.

“After today I’m more eager to move this along, just because of how well it went”, Doolittle said. Third baseman Max Muncy started the inning with a one-out double to right field.

“There wasn’t anything that really surprised me, more of the unknown than anything else, but that was a terrific game”. “Instead of 10 minutes sitting there (before the game), five minutes”. “I feel like my stuff wasn’t sharp the first inning and after that I kind of got going”.

He lasted just 1 1/3 innings while losing to San Francisco on Sunday as he allowed four runs and seven hits.

It was a nice rebound effort after giving up 11 runs on 18 hits over his previous two starts, a span of just a little over eight innings. In his past five starts, he has allowed a combined 10 runs over 29 innings (3.10 ERA) but emerged with zero wins.

Cleveland did all of its scoring off Bassitt in the first. The Indians and Brooks were seeing each other for the first time and the the right-handed owned a decided edge in winning his first game in the big leagues.

The A’s retook the lead in the fifth when Sam Fuld’s two-out single to right scored Marcus Semien, and an errant throw by cutoff man Carlos Santana allowed Eric Sogard to score as well. Santana then homered on a 1-1 pitch.

Indians: Lonnie Chisenhall was recalled from Triple-A Columbus when the Indians traded Brandon Moss to the St. Louis Cardinals for minor league pitcher Rob Kaminsky. Indians right-hander Cody Allen pitched a scoreless ninth for his 21st save of the season, closing out Cleveland’s third straight victory.

Outfielder Jake Smolinski was an infielder in high school and he’s started taking some grounders at first base to enhance his versatility.

It is still early to make any sweeping statements on Chisenhall, but if this game is any indication, the trip down to the Triple-A did some good for the third baseman turned right fielder.

Manager Bob Melvin said the A’s wanted to see Brooks, whom they acquired in the Ben Zobrist trade, pitch in person before opting whether to keep him or send him to Triple-A.

The 25-year-old Southern California native had numerous family members in the stands to watch him make his Athletics debut.

Chisenhall threw out one runner trying to score and made another good throw on the next play that was cut off by Carlos Santana, who threw it away at third, giving the A’s an extra run.

Danny Salazar thought about asking for the chance to finish his start Friday night. He lost his last outing but recorded a quality start, allowing two runs on six hits over 6 2-3 innings. Athletics C Stephen Vogt was 0-for-4 on Saturday and is hitless in 23 trips over his last seven contests.2.