Matt LaPorta hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning as the Indians defeated the Athletics, 3-2. The Tribe snapped a five-game slide.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians were relentless Thursday night.
First, they scored a run -- an earned run, at that.
Then they crafted a multi-run inning.
The combination proved too much for the Athletics.
Struggling Matt LaPorta hit a two-out, two-run homer in the sixth to carry the Tribe to a 3-2 victory at Progressive Field.
The Indians snapped a five-game slide during which they had combined to score four runs.
LaPorta was in a 4-for-44 skid when he launched Vin Mazzaro's pitch over the left-field wall. LaPorta also drove in Trevor Crowe, who had singled.
How desperate was Tribe manager Manny Acta for a victory? He summoned closer Chris Perez with one out and runners on first and second in the eighth.
Perez struck out Jeff Larish looking and got former Indian Kevin Kouzmanoff to hit a checked-swing grounder to first. Kouzmanoff might have been distracted when teammate Rajai Davis bluffed as if he would attempt to steal third.
Oakland put a runner on second with one out in the ninth. Perez struck out Coco Crisp looking and Daric Barton swinging.
Perez earned his 16th save.
The Athletics took a 1-0 lead in the second. Gabe Gross hit a two-out single to left to drive in Mark Ellis.
Mazzaro allowed one hit through three -- a one-out single by Luis Valbuena in the third. Mazzaro had retired seven in a row to open the game. Lou Marson followed with a walk. Michael Brantley grounded into a 5-4-3 double play.
The Indians tied it in the fifth when Brantley's two-out single to right drove in Marson from third. Marson had walked, stolen second and moved to third on a wild pitch.
The Indians' offense had not managed an earned run since the first inning last Sunday in Detroit.
Kouzmanoff cracked a two-out, RBI double in the sixth to give Oakland a 2-1 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Crowe singled to left. LaPorta delivered his blast, which was not punctuated by fireworks because of several hundred dogs in the building as part of a promotion.
The Indians had not scored three runs in one game since defeating Kansas City, 7-3, on Aug. 19.
Masterson (5-12, 5.23 ERA) gave up the two runs on five hits in six innings. He walked two, struck out three and hit two. Masterson ranks among league leaders in plunking batters.
Rafael Perez pitched a scoreless seventh. Joe Smith ran into trouble in the eighth, prompting Acta to go with Chris Perez.
Oakland played terrific defense in the early innings; otherwise, the Indians likely would have won comfortably.