CLEVELAND – The frustration of a long losing stretch boiled over for the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night.
Cleveland dropped an 8-4 decision to Oakland for its 13th loss in 14 games. The Indians are 5-26 since July 27.
Manager Manny Acta removed Carlos Santana from the game when the catcher didn't run hard to first base while grounding out in the sixth inning.
"He looked a little sluggish," Acta said. "We can be beat, but we're not going to be looking beaten out there. We need full effort from everybody."
Santana wasn't the only player who took an early shower. All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who entered the game in a 4-for-35 slump, was ejected by home plate umpire Gary Darling in the first inning.
Darling called Cabrera out on a 3-2 pitch that appeared to be low. Cabrera, thinking the pitch was ball four, put his bat down and then turned around, yelled and pointed his finger at the umpire. Darling took off his mask and said something back and Cabrera pointed at him again. Darling then gave Cabrera his first ejection of the year.
"Everybody knows (Darling) missed the pitch," Acta said. "What's hard is we spent a lot of time today talking to Cabrera about his struggles as of late because he's been chasing a lot of pitches out of the zone and how he has to be more patient. He worked a tremendous at-bat there and the guy missed the pitch."
Cabrera was ejected before Acta could pull his player away.
"When English is not your first language, I don't think you can argue for too long before dropping inappropriate words to those guys," Acta said.
Acta, looking for any way to lighten the mood around his club, held an animated meeting on the field with his players before batting practice began. The players, divided into two teams, participated in a hitting contest, which featured cheering and several high-fives being exchanged.
"I was trying to loosen the guys up," Acta said. "That's what it's all about."
The idea paid off briefly. Jason Donald's leadoff homer in the third ended Cleveland's scoreless innings streak at 24. Jason Kipnis' groundout added another run, but the script quickly reverted to form. Oakland went ahead for good in the fourth on Josh Donaldson's three-run homer off Corey Kluber (0-3).
"It was a curveball I left up and he took advantage of it," Kluber said.
Kluber's defense deserted him in the sixth. With Josh Reddick on first with a one-out infield single, he got Donaldson to ground to third. Jack Hannahan fielded the bouncer and threw to second to start a possible double play, but the ball went through second baseman Donald's legs, putting runners on first and third. Donald was charged with the error.
Derek Norris followed with an RBI grounder to first baseman Matt LaPorta, who stepped on first for the out. LaPorta turned to throw to second for an inning-ending double play, but instead held the ball before throwing home, too high and too late to get Reddick sliding in from third.
Oakland scored twice in the seventh off Cody Allen to go ahead 6-2. Cleveland scored twice in the eighth, but Oakland added two in the ninth.
Oakland has won seven straight over Cleveland this season after the Indians took the first two games.
"They have a very good pitching staff," Acta said. "They're tough. We can see why they're playing the way they are playing."
Jeanmar Gomez, called up from Triple-A Columbus before the game, pitched a scoreless eighth.
NOTES: Acta said RHP Roberto Hernandez will make his next scheduled start on Saturday against Texas. He threw 35 pitches in a bullpen session Wednesday. Hernandez left Monday's game against Oakland in the third inning with a sprained right ankle. .... Gomez will pitch out of bullpen. He could get a couple of starts, but Acta isn't anticipating the Indians will go with a six-man rotation in the final month. ... OF Shelley Duncan was designated for assignment to make room for Gomez. Duncan hit .203 with 11 homers and 31 RBIs in 81 games, mostly in left field. ... Acta said 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (broken forearm) could begin a minor league rehab assignment this weekend. ... Athletics manager Bob Melvin said he'll likely load his lineup with lefties against RHP Justin Masterson on Thursday. RHP Jarrod Parker starts for Oakland. He beat the Indians 7-0 in Oakland on Aug. 19. ... There were 366 dogs in the stands on tickets bought by fans for a "Puppypalooza" promotion.
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