Game Thread #95: A’s vs. Indians

Since the All-Star break ended, the Oakland A’s have played two games against the Cleveland Indians. On Friday the A’s won by one run, and on Saturday they lost by one run. Both times, Oakland scored in the 9th inning, but the second day it wasn’t quite enough.

Now the two clubs face off once more in the rubber match at the Coliseum, and the victor will win the series. The A’s are putting their ace on the mound, right-hander Chris Bassitt, fresh off his first career All-Star appearance on Tuesday. In his last start before that, he went seven strong innings against the Texas Rangers with just one run allowed.

Cleveland counters with Zach Plesac. The right-hander recently returned from the injured list, after missing a month to a fractured thumb that he suffered while “rather aggressively ripping off his shirt” and catching it on a chair. He’s started once since being activated, on July 8 against the Kansas City Royals, and he went four innings (55 pitches) with three runs allowed.

A’s lineup (home)

1. LF Mark Canha (R)
2. SS Elvis Andrus (R)
3. 1B Matt Olson (L)
4. 2B Jed Lowrie (S)
5. DH Mitch Moreland (L)
6. 3B Matt Chapman (R)
7. CF Ramon Laureano (R)
8. C Sean Murphy (R)
9. RF Seth Brown (L)

• RHP Chris Bassitt

Lowrie and Murphy back in the order.

Indians lineup (away)

1. CF Bradley Zimmer (L)
2. SS Amed Rosario (R)
3. 3B Jose Ramirez (S)
4. DH Franmil Reyes (R)
5. 1B Bobby Bradley (L)
6. C Roberto Perez (R)
7. LF Oscar Mercado (R)
8. RF Daniel Johnson (L)
9. 2B Ernie Clement (R)

• RHP Zach Plesac

How To Watch

• Date: Sunday, July 18
• Time: 1:07 p.m. PT
• TV (local): NBC Sports California
• Radio: 960 AM (more listings here)
• Streaming (watch): NBCS website (with cable sub)
• Streaming (listen): A’s Cast