Zack Gelof gave the Athletics an immediate three-run lead Friday night. After that, the offense produced little else.
The A’s managed only two more hits after Gelof’s first-inning homer and did not record another after the fifth. Cleveland erased the early deficit and handed the Athletics a 5-3 loss at Progressive Field.
The defeat was the A’s fourth straight and dropped them to 61-93. They are 0-4 on their final road trip of the season.
Gelof strikes first
Cleveland opener Daniel Espino struggled immediately.
Henry Bolte walked to begin the game before Shea Langeliers struck out. Lawrence Butler followed with another walk, bringing Gelof to the plate with two aboard.
Gelof drove an 0-1 pitch to center for his 19th homer. The 393-foot shot gave the Athletics a 3-0 lead.
However, the A’s could not build on it. Espino escaped the inning before Joey Cantillo took over in the second.
Meanwhile, Mason Barnett repeatedly worked around trouble. Cleveland loaded the bases in the first, but Barnett induced a double play from Travis Bazzana.
The Guardians threatened again in the second. This time, Barnett struck out José Ramírez with the bases loaded to preserve the three-run lead.
Cleveland takes control
Barnett’s escape act ended in the fourth.
Patrick Bailey and Petey Halpin opened the inning with singles. Brayan Rocchio followed with a two-run double, cutting the A’s lead to 3-2.
After Steven Kwan struck out, Ramírez singled home Rocchio to tie the game. Scott Blewett replaced Barnett and prevented further damage.
Barnett allowed three runs on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out four.
However, Cleveland grabbed the lead against Blewett in the fifth. Bazzana opened the inning with his 15th homer, a 411-foot drive to center.
Ramírez added another solo homer off Seth Johnson with two outs in the sixth. His 12th homer produced his 1,000th career RBI and extended Cleveland’s lead to 5-3.
Two hits, then silence
While Cleveland chipped away, the Athletics could not solve Cantillo.
Jeff McNeil singled in the fourth, but Tommy White immediately grounded into a double play. Alika Williams added an infield single in the fifth, which became the A’s final hit.
Cantillo worked six scoreless innings in relief. He allowed two hits and one walk while striking out five.
The Athletics managed one baserunner over the final three innings. Bolte was hit by a pitch in the eighth, but Langeliers followed with an inning-ending double play.
Then Cade Smith retired Butler, Gelof and McNeil in order in the ninth.
The A’s finished with three hits and eight strikeouts. All three of their runs came on Gelof’s first-inning homer.
Eight games remain
The Athletics are 61-93 with eight games remaining. They need two victories to avoid a 100-loss season.
The A’s remain fourth in the AL West, two games ahead of the 59-95 Los Angeles Angels. The teams meet twice next week before the Athletics finish the season with four games against Houston.
First, the A’s have two more games in Cleveland.
Jacob Lopez is scheduled to face Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. PT.
Related stories
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
