Gio Gonzalez records first win of season as A’s avoid three-game sweep, 5-2

Gonzalez pitches A’s past Indians, 5-2

CLEVELAND — Gio Gonzalez pitched six strong innings for his first win of the season and the Oakland Athletics beat the Cleveland Indians 5-2 on Sunday.

Prior to the game, Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said manager Eric Wedge will keep his job for the rest of the season, even though Cleveland has the worst record in the AL. Despite the news, the Indians failed to complete a three-game sweep and lost for the 14th time in 18 games.

Gonzalez (1-2) allowed two runs, six hits, and struck out a career-high eight for his second career win and first since Aug. 12 of last season when he defeated Tampa Bay.

Andrew Bailey, Oakland’s lone representative on the AL All-Star team, recorded the final four outs for his ninth save in 13 chances, extending his scoreless inning streak to 10 2-3 innings covering nine appearances.

Cliff Lee (4-8) allowed three runs in six innings. The left-hander, last season’s AL Cy Young Award winner, hasn’t won since June 14 when he pitched a three-hit shutout over St. Louis.

Victor Martinez, the Indians’ only All-Star, wasn’t in the lineup, but pinch-hit with two outs in the ninth. He grounded out to end the game and is in a 4-for-47 slump.

Kurt Suzuki gave the A’s a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the first. Grady Sizemore’s RBI double tied the game in the third.

Lee threw 30 pitches in the sixth when the A’s scored to take a 2-1 lead on Matt Holliday’s single. Rajai Davis drew a leadoff walk, took second on a sacrifice and went to third on a groundout. Suzuki walked on a 3-2 pitch before Holliday singled through the right side.

Oakland added a run in the sixth on Adam Kennedy’s sacrifice fly.

Jhonny Peralta hit a one-out homer in the sixth off Gonzalez, who was removed after the inning. Michael Wuertz struck out three in 1 2-3 innings.

Bobby Crosby’s double play ground ball scored a run for Oakland in the eighth. Orlando Cabrera added a solo homer in the ninth.

NOTES: A’s 1B/DH Jason Giambi, in a 4-for-37 slump, didn’t start against Lee. … Kennedy and OF Jack Cust were the only left-handed hitters in Oakland’s lineup. … RHP Hector Rondon, Cleveland’s top pitching prospect, had been promoted from Double-A Akron to Triple-A Columbus. … The Indians are off Monday before starting a road trip to Chicago and Detroit. … Cleveland will play only five more home games in July.