'Playmaker' Marte sparks rally, comeback win

CLEVELAND -- After thrilling home fans at the Coliseum over an impressive five-game homestand, Tuesday was time for A’s outfielder Starling Marte to take his action-packed show on the road.

Nearing four straight innings without a hit while facing a one-run deficit, the A’s were desperate for a spark. Naturally, Marte, as he’s done so often in his short time with Oakland, ignited a late rally with a one-out single in the eighth inning for what was the A’s first hit since the fourth. Two pitches later, he stole second, positioning himself to eventually score the tying run on a groundout by Jed Lowrie.

The positive momentum generated by Marte provided enough fuel for the A’s to complete the late comeback in extras. Lowrie smacked a go-ahead RBI double in the top of the 10th, and left-hander Andrew Chafin finished it off in the bottom half for a 4-3 victory over the Indians at Progressive Field. It marked the fifth straight victory for Oakland, which took sole possession of the top American League Wild Card spot.

“It’s not until you watch him on a day-to-day basis that you see how many different ways he can hurt you,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said of Marte. “He’s a fearless baserunner. He’s stealing on guys who, a lot of times, are really quick to the plate. When you need that big stolen base late in games, there are very few guys that can do that.

“Whether it’s his power or speed, everything that he brings to the table, at least a facet or two shows up every game and helps us win.”

What was most impressive about Marte’s stolen base was the situation. Everybody in the ballpark knew he was going to try to steal, even if it wasn’t going to be easy with Indians reliever James Karinchak on the mound, who’d only allowed five stolen bases in 52 appearances this season entering Tuesday.

Sure enough, on a 1-0 count to Matt Olson, Marte charged towards second and easily beat the throw from Austin Hedges for what was his 30th stolen base of the season -- the second most in the Majors -- and eighth since joining the A’s on July 29.

“There [are] not too many guys that can do that,” Melvin said. “Nowadays, it’s more take advantage of a slow time to the plate or look for a breaking-ball count. This is kind of [the] Rickey Henderson-type where you know he’s going and, even if you pitch out, you might not get him.”

The stolen bases are certainly racking up at a Henderson-like pace. Marte’s eight stolen bases through 10 games are the most by any player through their first 10 games with the A’s in franchise history. Yes, even more than Henderson’s seven swiped bags through his first 10 games when he rejoined the club midseason in a trade from the Yankees in 1989 and led Oakland to a World Series title with a spectacular second half.

The A’s are quickly running out of superlatives to describe the immediate impact provided by Marte. They’re now 8-2 since his arrival. Over that stretch, the center fielder is batting .400 (18-for-45) with two homers, two doubles, six RBIs, eight stolen bases and nine runs scored.

“He’s been a playmaker since he got here,” said A’s starter Sean Manaea. “Whether it’s hitting the ball or stealing a base like that. He’s been a great addition, for sure.”

Just as important as Marte’s effort was a herculean performance by the A’s bullpen. Chafin’s scoreless 10th -- which was aided by a tremendous snag by Matt Chapman at third on a scorching 108.2 mph liner hit by Amed Rosario -- capped a total of 8 1/3 scoreless innings turned in by six A’s relievers, who provided a huge pick-me-up for Manaea after he was pulled with two outs in the second for what was his shortest outing since 2017.

Burch Smith got the strong run going by entering in relief of Manaea and finishing the second to keep the deficit at 3-1. He went on to retire 10 of 11 batters faced while allowing just one hit in 3 1/3 innings.

After Smith, A.J. Puk, Yusmeiro Petit, Sergio Romo, Lou Trivino and Chafin combined to hold Cleveland’s lineup hitless over the game’s final five innings.

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“Burch was huge in giving us three-plus [innings], and we just had to use one inning from everybody else,” Melvin said. “Other than Burch, everybody is still available for [Wednesday]. It was terrific that he came in there and did what he did.

“Our bullpen, that’s why we keep running guys out there in close games and feel like we have a chance to win. You get into an extra-inning game with the depth we have, I feel like we’re at the advantage a lot.”