Butler's slam caps Tribe's 8-run 5th vs. A's
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Joey Butler has had a quiet camp as one of the many candidates for an outfield job with the Indians. But he made plenty of noise Friday, launching a grand slam to help power the Indians to a 10-8 Cactus League victory over the A's -- who got another home run from their top prospect, Franklin Barreto.
Butler drilled a 1-2 pitch from Oakland reliever Seth Frankoff to deep center field, where it bounced high off the green backdrop behind the wall. The blast was the second of the spring for Butler, and it capped an eight-run fifth inning.
"That was a fun inning to watch," Indians manager Terry Francona said, "because the guys kept the line moving and took their walks, and then Joey really took a good swing. Again, I don't care what time of year it is. You love seeing guys take good swings."
Barreto clubbed his third homer of the spring, a three-run shot off Felipe Paulino in a four-run ninth for the A's. Oakland also received a solo home run from catcher Josh Phegley and offensive contributions from first baseman Mark Canha and infield candidate Eric Sogard. Canha delivered a two-run double in the first inning off Indians starter Josh Tomlin and Sogard added an RBI double of his own in the second.
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Tomlin, who is competing with righty Cody Anderson for the fifth spot in Cleveland's rotation, scattered 10 hits while allowing three runs in 3 1/3 innings, seeing his Cactus League ERA balloon to 7.15. He struck out three and walked one.
"He gave up 10 hits in three-plus innings, and he gave up three runs," Francona said. "Obviously, he's not looking to give up that many hits, but I think it says a lot about him that he gave up three runs. No crooked numbers. You look up, and it doesn't matter in spring, but we won a game where he could've easily given up six or seven and you're fighting uphill all day."
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A's starter Jesse Hahn -- in line to begin the season in the middle of Oakland's rotation -- yielded two runs on four hits in four innings, during which he struck out five and walked one. Hahn surrendered both runs in the first inning, when Jose Ramirez doubled home a run and Mike Napoli added a sacrifice fly.
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The bulk of the damage done by the Indians came against A's Minor Leaguer R.J. Alvarez and Frankoff, who each allowed four runs in the fifth.
Alvarez slipped into a bases-loaded jam with one out and walked Napoli to force home the first of Cleveland's eight runs in the inning. Frankoff hit Yan Gomes with a pitch with the bags full, allowed consecutive RBI singles to Robbie Grossman and Will Venable, and then gave up the grand slam to Butler.
Up next for the Indians: Left fielder Michael Brantley, who underwent surgery on his right shoulder in November, is slated to make his Cactus League debut on Saturday night, when the Indians host the Cubs at 10:05 ET at Goodyear Ballpark, live on Gameday Audio. Right-hander Corey Kluber is penciled in to start as he continues to build toward his second straight Opening Day assignment.
Up next for the Athletics: The A's will engage in split-squad action on Saturday, keeping ace Sonny Gray in the home confines of Hohokam Stadium to face the Reds, live on Gameday Audio, while lefty Felix Doubront hits the road for a matchup with the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium, live on MLB.TV. Both games are scheduled for 1:05 p.m. PT.