Butler's Bat Flip Gives Cleveland 6-3 Win Over A's
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Billy Butler's bat flip gave the Cleveland Indians the boost they needed Saturday night.
The Indians answered Butler's flip after his game-tying home run in the fourth with a four-run inning that propelled Cleveland to a 6-3 win over the Oakland Athletics.
Butler and Cleveland catcher Chris Gimenez exchanged words during the at-bat, which ended when Butler homered into the left-field bleachers, a drive that traveled an estimated 440 feet.
Butler tossed his bat several feet from home plate, which began a shouting match between the two players. Gimenez paced around the home plate area as Butler slowly rounded the bases.
"I kind of took offense to the whole situation," Gimenez said. "I felt like there was a little bit of showmanship right there. I was definitely not thrilled that he turned around and screamed in my face. I let him know I would be waiting for him when he got back."
Umpire Trip Gibson stood beside Gimenez during Butler's trip around the bases and then issued warnings to both dugouts.
"I imagine he wasn't too happy with me just like I was still not happy with him," Butler said. "That's all it is. I got no personal problem with Chris."
Gimenez agreed there were no issues between the two players, but thought the incident may have given the Indians a spark.
"Things like that are going to happen," he said. "It won't be the last time. It kind of rallied the troops, I'll take it."
Abraham Almonte and Mike Napoli homered in the fourth. Jason Kipnis drove in two runs and homered while Jose Ramirez also went deep for the AL Central-leading Indians.
Josh Tomlin (11-3) allowed two runs in seven innings and moved into a tie with Danny Salazar for the team lead in wins.
Dillon Overton (1-2), recalled from Triple-A Nashville before the game, gave up five runs and 10 hits, including three homers, in 3 1/3 innings.
Danny Valencia's two-out single gave Oakland the lead in the first, but Kipnis hit his 17th home run, tying a career high, in the bottom of the inning.
Ramirez led off the second with a home run. Butler's homer tied the game, but Cleveland responded. Almonte homered to start the inning and Kipnis' RBI double finished Overton.
Napoli hit his team-leading 23rd homer to dead center off Liam Hendricks.
Tomlin praised his teammates for rallying after he allowed Butler's home run.
"That was awesome," he said. "That kind of quieted them down and gave me a cushion."
Marcus Semien homered with two out in the ninth off Indians closer Cody Allen.
Butler and Gimenez both voiced minor disagreement with Gibson's strike zone prior to the home run, which led to them exchanging words with each other.
Butler was loudly booed in his next two at-bats by the crowd of 32,850. He walked in the seventh and flied out in the ninth.
SOMEONE'S WATCHING
Gimenez had some second thoughts about losing his temper as Butler completed his home run trot.
"Would my wife want my kids seeing me do something?" he said. "Thankfully nothing happened."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: LHP Rich Hill was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand, a move retroactive to July 20. He's eligible to return Thursday.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray will replace Hill against the Indians on Sunday. He's 2-8 with a 6.31 ERA in his last eight starts, but is 2-0 in four career outings versus Cleveland.
Indians: RHP Corey Kluber is 0-4 in five career appearances against Oakland. The All-Star got a no-decision in his last start against Baltimore.
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