Reddick Homers Twice, Including Grand Slam, A's Defeat Cleveland
CLEVELAND (CBS / AP) -- Josh Reddick homered twice, including a grand slam, and drove in a career-high six runs, and Josh Donaldson added a three-run shot in the Oakland Athletics' 11-1 win over the Cleveland Indians on Friday night.
Reddick's second career grand slam and Donaldson's homer sparked an eight-run second inning. Reddick added a two-run homer in the seventh.
Sonny Gray (5-1) allowed one run and two hits with nine strikeouts in six innings for Oakland, which has won seven of eight.
Both homers in Oakland's biggest inning of the season came off Zach McAllister (4-3), who struck out the side in the first, but retired only one batter in the second for the shortest outing of his career.
Reddick came into Friday in an 8-for-43 skid over his last 13 games.
Nick Swisher's solo homer in the first put Cleveland ahead, but Oakland sent 11 men to the plate in the second, with the first five reaching base. Brandon Moss doubled past Swisher and took third on Yoenis Cespedes' single. Lowrie's single got the Athletics even and Derek Norris walked to load the bases. Reddick followed by hitting a 1-0 pitch into the seats in right.
Coco Crisp and John Jaso drew one-out walks before Donaldson drove a 3-2 pitch into the home run porch in left field. The ball landed hit off a souvenir stand and traveled an estimated 410 feet.
Indians manager Terry Francona pulled McAllister for left-hander Kyle Crockett, who was making his major league debut. Gray played catch with Jaso in front of Oakland's dugout to keep loose during the pitching change.
Gray was in control other than allowing Swisher's homer. Michael Brantley singled with two outs in the third. The right-hander retired the final eight hitters, including five strikeouts.
Gray pitched six scoreless innings and struck out seven in a no-decision against the Indians on opening day. He's 3-0 on the road and 4-0 in night games.
Reddick's second home run came off Carlos Carrasco, giving him five multi-homer games in his career.
Lowrie drove in two runs, including a leadoff homer in the third, while Donaldson has homered in three straight games.
McAllister allowed eight runs in 1 1-3 innings and threw 38 pitches in the second, in which he gave up two homers, two singles, a double and three walks. The right-hander hasn't won since April 21, a stretch of five starts.
Crisp was back in the lineup after missing seven games with a strained neck. Oakland's leadoff hitter was hitless with two walks in two at-bats.
Brantley returned after sitting out Thursday's game with a sore back. He had one hit in four at-bats.
The Indians sent right-hander Danny Salazar to Triple-A Columbus before the game and added Crockett for another arm in the bullpen. Cleveland might have to make a move for another reliever before Saturday's game since the bullpen had to throw 7 2-3 innings Friday.
Crockett, promoted from Double-A Akron, allowed Lowrie's home run and struck out one in 1 1-3 innings.
The Indians are last place in the AL Central, having lost four of six after winning a season-high four straight.
NOTES: Reddick's grand slam was the first hit by the Athletics and the first allowed by the Indians this season. ... Francona said OF Nyjer Morgan has a sprained ligament in his right knee, but will not need surgery. Morgan was injured trying to catch a fly ball Wednesday in Toronto. ... Athletics 1B Kyle Blanks, who was acquired Thursday from the Padres, pinch hit in the ninth and singled. ... Francona said 2B Jason Kipnis (strained right oblique) could begin a minor league rehab assignment next week. ... Oakland LHP Scott Kazmir (5-1) faces RHP Josh Tomlin (2-0) on Saturday. Kazmir was 10-9 in 29 starts for the Indians last season.
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