Cleveland Tops Oakland 4-3, Mesa with 3rd Save

Catfish Hunter lost his 2nd game of the day, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits in 7 innings in a back-and-forth battle with the Cleveland Indians. The New York Yankees’ Catfish Hunter lost earlier in the day. This time, he lost for the Oakland Athletics. Oakland scored first in the 2nd inning on an RBI single by Mickey Cochrane, but Albert Belle homered and Nap Lajoie tripled in the bottom of the inning to put Cleveland on top. Reggie Jackson homered in the 4th, and Jimmie Foxx added an RBI single in the 5th to retake the lead for Oakland against Cliff Lee. An RBI single by Jim Thome and a Sacrifice Fly by Manny Ramírez put the Indians on top for good. Lee finished with 3 runs on 6 hits and 5 walks in 5 innings, but Cleveland relievers allowed just 3 hits and didn’t walk a batter the rest of the way. José Mesa pitched a perfect 9th to collect his 3rd save, and the Oakland Athletics were eliminated from the Tournament. Cleveland will face the Detroit Tigers tomorrow.

Oakland @ Cleveland – 10/5/23