Kipnis hits 1 of Indians' 4 HRs in 6-3 win over Athletics
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jason Kipnis hit one of Cleveland's four homers, leading the Indians to a 6-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night.
Jose Ramirez, Abraham Almonte and Mike Napoli also went deep for the AL Central-leading Indians.
Cleveland broke a 2-all tie with a four-run fourth in which Almonte and Napoli homered. The rally came after Billy Butler tied the game with a home run in the top of the inning and flipped his bat several feet from home plate, a move the Indians quickly answered.
Josh Tomlin (11-3) allowed two runs in seven innings and moved into a tie with Danny Salazar for the team lead in wins.
Dillon Overton (1-2), recalled from Triple-A Nashville before the game, gave up five runs and 10 hits, including three homers, in 3 1/3 innings.
Butler and Cleveland catcher Chris Gimenez exchanged words following a pitch with two out in the fourth. Plate umpire Tripp Gibson separated the two and Butler belted the next pitch into the left field bleachers, a drive that traveled an estimated 440 feet.
Butler followed with his bat flip, which began a shouting match between the two players. Gibson stood beside Gimenez as Butler rounded the bases and then issued warnings to both dugouts.
Butler was loudly booed in his next two at-bats by the crowd of 32,850. He walked in the seventh and flied out in the ninth.
Danny Valencia's two-out single gave Oakland the lead in the first, but Kipnis hit his 17th home run, tying a career high, in the bottom of the inning.
Ramirez led off the second with a home run. Butler's homer tied the game, but Cleveland responded with a four-run fourth. Almonte homered to start the inning and Kipnis' RBI double finished Overton.
Napoli hit his team-leading 23rd homer to dead center off Liam Hendricks.
Marcus Semien homered with two out in the ninth off Indians closer Cody Allen.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: LHP Rich Hill was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand, a move retroactive to July 20. He's eligible to return Thursday.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray will replace Hill against the Indians on Sunday. He's 2-8 with a 6.31 ERA in his last eight starts, but is 2-0 in four career outings versus Cleveland.
Indians: RHP Corey Kluber is 0-4 in five career appearances against Oakland. The All-Star got a no-decision in his last start against Baltimore.