Sweeney stays hot, A’s defeat slumping Blue Jays

A’s beat struggling Blue Jays

OAKLAND, Calif. — Ryan Sweeney drove in three runs, Dallas Braden won for the first time in four starts and the Oakland Athletics beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-5 on Friday night.

Rajai Davis had two hits and scored twice for the A’s, who traded shortstop Orlando Cabrera to the Minnesota Twins earlier in the day.

Braden wasn’t his sharpest, giving up five runs in 6 2-3 innings, but the left-hander hung around long enough to win for the first time since July 11.

Adam Lind had three hits, including a two-run homer in the seventh, for Toronto. The Blue Jays’ third straight loss dropped them a season-high five games under .500.

Andrew Bailey pitched a scoreless ninth for his ninth consecutive save and 14th in 18 chances.

The loss came at the end of a long day for Toronto, which traded third baseman Scott Rolen to Cincinnati for infielder Edwin Encarnacion, right-hander Josh Roenicke and a minor leaguer. The Blue Jays also listened to offers for Roy Halladay before deciding to keep the 2003 AL Cy Young winner.

The A’s stayed busy, too, making their second trade in an eight-day span by moving Cabrera to Minnesota in exchange for a minor leaguer and cash. A week earlier, Oakland general manager Billy Beane dealt outfielder Matt Holliday to St. Louis for a trio of minor leaguers.

Braden (8-9) scattered eight hits and struck out one.

Cliff Pennington, called up from Triple-A Sacramento to replace Cabrera, started at shortstop and went 1-for-3 and scored a run.

Every Oakland starter had at least one hit and six different players scored. The A’s led 4-0 then batted around during a four-run fourth to break the game open.

Sweeney had a two-run single in the first off Toronto starter Scott Richmond (6-6) and drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth to give Oakland a 6-0 lead.

Toronto scored single runs in the third and fifth then cut the gap to 8-5 on Lind’s 22nd homer of the season.

Richmond, making his first start since missing 21 games while on the disabled list with elbow tendinitis, lasted only three-plus innings and was charged with six runs. The right-hander struck out two and walked three.

He didn’t get much help from the Blue Jays’ defense, which committed a season-high three errors.

Notes: Oakland manager Bob Geren said the plan is to give Pennington first crack at being the team’s everyday shortstop. … Encarnacion is expected to join the Blue Jays on Saturday. … Toronto hit four doubles and leads the majors with 233.