OAKLAND -- Two innings in, it didn't seem like Paul Blackburn would last very long.
The A's starter had thrown 47 pitches and allowed four baserunners against the fourth-best hitting lineup in the American League. But none of them scored, and then Blackburn found his groove, retiring 14 of his last 15 batters, lasting 6 1/3 innings and outdueling Trevor Bauer in a 3-1 win over the Indians on Friday at the Coliseum.
Marcus Semien, Khris Davis and Jed Lowrie knocked in the runs as the A's won their fifth consecutive game -- and 11th of their last 13 -- to improve to a season-high seven games over .