Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Scott Kazmir enjoyed a successful Oakland debut by pitching into the eighth inning, and Alberto Callaspo hit a two-run homer, as the A's claimed a 6-1 victory over Cleveland in the opener of a series-ending day-night doubleheader.
Callaspo finished 2-for-4 and scored twice, while Brandon Moss, Jed Lowrie and Yoenis Cespedes each contributed two hits and an RBI for the Athletics, who witnessed their first rain out at home since May of 1998 delay the continuation of this three-game set on Tuesday.
Derek Norris added three hits to back Kazmir (1-0), who lasted 7 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up three hits and fanning five. The veteran lefty inked a $22 million, two-year deal back in December to leave Cleveland behind.
"I don't want to say it adds pressure to him, because he doesn't look at it that way, he just wants to be one of the five starters," A's manager Bob Melvin said of Kazmir, who was signed to replace Bartolo Colon. "When you lose a guy like Bartolo to free agency, his importance is key for us."
Corey Kluber (0-1) was charged in defeat for five runs on eight hits in 3 1/3 frames for the Indians, who posted a 2-0 win in Monday's opener. Carlos Santana knocked in the Tribe's lone run.
Kazmir was in control throughout, then exited after Mike Aviles doubled with one down in the eighth, but Dan Otero retired the next two batters.
"As you saw today, he's continuing to get better. He pitched great, he was pounding the zone, hitting the corners, keeping the ball down. I didn't get anything over the middle of the plate," said Tribe outfielder Nick Swisher. "You hate to see a guy like that go, but he's a big addition for those guys."
He wasn't so lucky in the ninth, costing his club a shutout by giving up a two-out double to Jason Kipnis and an RBI single from Santana, before Ryan Raburn grounded to the third-base side of the mound to end the contest.
Oakland got on the board in its first turn at the plate. Crisp led off with a single, stole second and came around on a two-out hit from Cespedes following a walk to Moss.
The A's had the bases loaded in the second and picked up one run on a Crisp sacrifice fly, then, after Norris was tagged out on a fielder's choice, Lowrie's single plated Eric Sogard for a 3-0 game.
Reddick walked with one down in the third, and Callaspo's blast to right with one out provided a five-run cushion for Kazmir.
Kluber was yanked with runners on the corners and one out in the fourth. but Scott Atchison prevented further damage by fanning Callaspo after walking Reddick to load the bases.
It was 6-0 in the sixth, after Lowrie slugged a one-out double to right center and came home on a Moss double.
Game Notes
Following the contest, the A's recalled pitcher Josh Lindblom from Triple-A Sacramento to start the nightcap, opposing Cleveland's Zach McAllister ... After Sonny Gray's scoreless outing on Monday, the A's featured two starters who failed to give up a run in the season's first two outings since 1914, when the franchise was based in Philadelphia.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.