Oakland Athletics’ Ryan Noda watches his three-run home run off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams during the third inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Wed Jun 21, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg.

The Oakland A’s (19-57) lost another one-run game to the Cleveland Guardians (35-38) Wednesday night at Progressive Field in Cleveland. The final score was 7-6. After winning seven straight games, the A’s have lost seven in a row, including the last four games, by a single run.

The A’s gave starter Paul Blackburn a 4-0 lead in the top of the third. Cleveland scored three in their half of the inning. Cleveland tied the game in the fifth. The As’ went ahead 6-4 in the top of the seventh. The A’s needed the bullpen to stop the Cleveland offense in the seventh and eighth to secure the win.

Unfortunately for Oakland, the pen couldn’t keep the Guardians off the board. The Guardians’ big first baseman, Josh Naylor, blasted his ninth home run of the year to make it a one-run game, 6-5 in favor of the A’s after seven.

Naylor also drove in his 55th RBI with the homer. A’s skipper Mark Kotsay summoned Austin Pruitt from the bullpen to pitch the eighth. The Guardians found a way to put two more runs on the board. The rally began when Myles Straw singled with one out.

When he singled, Bo Naylor, Josh’s younger brother, recorded his first Major League hit, sending Straw to second. It was Bo Naylor’s first hit in Major League baseball. Pruitt now had to face the Guardians’ left-fielder Steven Kwan, the young man from Fremont doubled to drive in Straw with the Guardians’ sixth run of the night.

Ramon Laureano’s throw to second base went awry, and Naylor was able to score on the errant throw. The Guardians led 7-6 after eight. The Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase squirmed out of a jam in the ninth to earn his 22nd save of the year. With Tony Kemp at first and no out, Clase received a gift from the home plate umpire.

Aledmys Diaz was called out on strikes when charged with a time clock violation. Diaz stepped out of the batter’s box and nodded to the umpire for time. When Diaz stepped back into the box, the umpire called the violation, and Diaz was out.

Confusion reigned as Diaz and Kotsay argued for clarification. It was to no avail. Esteury Ruiz singled, sending Kemp to third. Ruiz stole second. It was Ruiz’s second steal of the game and 38th of the year. Clase struck out Ryan Noda for the second out and retired Seth Brown on a fly ball to center.

The A’s scored four in the third. Kemp and Tyler Wade singled to get the rally going for Oakland. Ruiz singled to drive in Kemp with the A’s first run Ryan Noda followed with his ninth big fly of the season to make it 4-0.

The Guardians scored three times in their half of the third. Catcher Bo Naylor walked to start the rally. Singles by Steven Kwan, Amed Rosario, Jose Ramirez, and Josh Naylor produced three runs. Cleveland sent eight men to the plate in the inning.

In the fifth, Jose Ramirez tripled to right field, leading off the inning. Josh Naylor’s infield single drove in Ramirez with Cleveland’s fourth run. The score remained tied until the top of the seventh. The A’s scored twice to take a 6-4 lead.

With one out, Tony Kemp singled. Aledmys Diaz, pinch-hitting for Tyler Wade, singled, sending Kemp to third. Terry Francona brought in setup reliever Trevor Stefan to pitch. Esteury Ruiz singled driving in Kemp. It was Ruiz’s second RBI of the game.

Stefan retired Ryan Noda for the second out. Seth Brown broke an 0-for-14 slump with a single to drive in Ruiz with the A’s sixth run. As mentioned above, Cleveland scored in the bottom of the seventh when Josh Naylor Homered. Cleveland added two more in the eighth to win 7-6.

Game Notes- With the loss, the A’s are 19-57. Cleveland improved to 35-38. The line score for Oakland was six runs, nine hits, and two errors. The line for Cleveland was seven runs, 13 hits, and no errors.
The Winning pitcher was Elijah Morgan. Austin Pruitt took the loss.

A’s starter Paul Blackburn went five innings and allowed nine hits and four runs. He struck out seven and walked one. Cleveland’s starter, rookie Gavin Williams went five and 2/3rds innings. He allowed four hits and four runs. Williams struck out four and walked three.

The A’s Esteury Ruiz had three hits, all singles, drove in two and stole two bases. Tony Kemp also had three hits. The hitting stars for Cleveland were Hosh Naylor and Jose Ramirez. Naylor had three singles and a home run. Ramirez had two singles and a triple.

The A’s finish the three-game series with Cleveland on Thursday. It will be a battle between two lefties. JP Sears will go for Oakland, and Logan Allen will oppose him. The game will start at 10:10 am.