Guardians 5 - 1 Athletics
Final
  for this game

Indians seek to extend successful road start in Oakland

Apr 21, 2012 - 2:44 PM

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(Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians try to continue their impressive road start this evening when they resume a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum.

The Indians ran their road mark to 6-1 on Friday, as Jack Hannahan drove in three runs to carry the Tribe to a 4-3 triumph.

Shin-Soo Choo added an RBI single for Cleveland, which is off to its best road start since also opening 6-1 in 1999. It hasn't begun 7-1 away from home since 1988.

"It's good to get on the road and go out and play baseball, believe in ourselves and continue to put together good, consistent at bats," Hannahan said.

Ubaldo Jimenez (2-0) allowed two runs on six hits and five walks over six innings to earn the win and Chris Perez tossed a perfect ninth for his fifth save of the season.

Yoenis Cespedes went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Josh Reddick homered for Oakland, which saw its season-high three-game win streak come to an end. Graham Godfrey (0-3) gave up four runs on three hits and five walks over five innings in the loss.

"I just couldn't locate when I needed to," said Godfrey. "When you give them that many opportunities they are going to figure out a way to get some runs across."

Getting the call for the Indians tonight will be righty Jeanmar Gomez, who has yet to pick up a decision in two starts this season, but has pitched to a 2.25 ERA. Gomez lasted just two-plus innings last Saturday, when he was ejected for internationally hitting Kansas City's Mike Moustakas with a pitch to open the third inning.

Gomez, who is 1-0 in two starts versus the A's, was suspended for five games for the incident, but is appealing. However, he is expected to drop his appeal following tonight's contest.

Oakland, meanwhile, will rely on righty Brandon McCarthy, who is 0-2 with a 3.60 ERA. McCarthy was roughed up in a loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Monday, as he allowed five runs and 11 hits in seven innings.

"You feel like you're not doing your part even more so, and I don't really like that feeling at all," McCarthy said. "So much of this game is individual, and when I'm not pitching well during a time when we're struggling as a whole, I feel like it all falls on me."

McCarthy has faced the Tribe 16 times (eight starts) and is 6-3 with a 4.61 ERA.

Cleveland was 5-2 last season versus the A's.






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