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Moss, Milone help A's blank Indians

Aug 29, 2012 - 4:19 AM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Brandon Moss hit a two-run home run and drove in three while Tom Milone pitched six strong innings as the Oakland Athletics took a 7-0 win over the Cleveland Indians in the second of this four-game set.

Milone (11-9) gave up seven hits and a walk with five strikeouts while Chris Carter went 3-for-5 with a solo homer, two RBI and two runs scored for the A's, who have won four straight.

"He's pitched several games this year in the fashion he did tonight," said Oakland manager Bob Melvin about Milone. "When we need him to make good pitches, he usually does it."

Zach McAllister (5-5) was touched for five runs on nine hits over just 4 1/3 innings to take the loss. Carlos Santana had two of the eight hits for the Indians, who have lost three straight and 12 of 13.

"Offensively we just couldn't do much," said Cleveland manager Manny Acta. "We couldn't put the ball in play when we had guys on base and that will always hurt you."

Oakland sent eight men to the plate in the second inning. Seth Smith, Carter and Moss all singled to start the frame, with Moss' hit bringing in Smith. After the next two batters recorded outs, Adam Rosales laced a single to left field for a 2-0 lead. Stephen Drew walked to load the bases, but Josh Reddick popped out to end the frame.

The next inning saw the Athletics plate two more runners. With one out, Smith doubled, but Carter followed with a strikeout. Moss then blasted a shot over the wall in center field for a 4-0 lead.

Carter's leadoff homer in the fifth made it a 5-0 game.

Cleveland left men on base in each of the first three innings, but appeared poised to score after a leadoff single by Shelley Duncan was followed by a double from Brent Lillibridge to put men on second and third. Milone, though, then struck out Casey Kotchman and Jason Donald, then got Jason Kipnis to ground out.

After stranding a man in the fifth, the Indians were retired in order in the sixth before Jerry Blevins took over for the seventh and left Asdrubal Cabrera on base after he hit a two-out double.

Blevins got a pair of groundouts to start the eighth then Pat Neshek took the mound and got Duncan to pop out and end the inning.

An RBI double from Carter plated one run in the ninth and a wild pitch by Joe Smith scored another as the A's took a 7-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Evan Scribner set the Indians down in order in the ninth.

Game Notes

Oakland, which also blanked Cleveland in the opener, has won six of the eight games against Cleveland this season ... The A's walked just one batter tonight and have walked two or less men in 24 straight games, a franchise record ... Cleveland has been held to three or less runs in eight straight games, scoring just 11 runs during that time.