GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Brett Anderson is ready for the season to start.
Anderson, Oakland's opening-day pitcher, gave up three runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings, and the Athletics went on to beat the Cleveland Indians 7-6 in 10 innings on Tuesday.
"Once I get this last start out of the way, it will hit me," Anderson said. "It's an honour to go out there and get that first start. It's going to be exciting."
Anderson missed most of last season for the Athletics recovery from elbow surgery but made it back for the playoffs. He pitched six scoreless innings against Detroit in the AL Division series.
"I threw some good fastballs and changes to get some ground balls. I'm ready to get up in the bigs with some humidity maybe the breaking ball will be better," Anderson said. "It was good to get my stamina built up."
Eric Sogard doubled home Michael Choice with the tying run in the fifth inning and then scored two outs later on Yoenis Cespedes' fourth home run of the spring to put the A's up 5-3.
Jose Ramirez had an RBI single in the ninth, advanced to third on Ryan Rohlinger's single to centre and scored the tying run on Travis Blackley's wild pitch.
"We want to use Blackley for multiple innings," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "It is something we are trying to make a decision on. Those are the situations you evaluate closely."
Blackley also pitched the 10th and picked up the win.
Daric Barton's two-out single in the top of the 10th put Oakland back ahead, and Nate Freiman scored two batters later on a bases-loaded walk to Luke Montz to increase the lead to 7-5.
Todd Hankins had an RBI grounder for the Indians in the bottom of the 10th.
Zach McAllister, who will make the major league opening day roster for the first time, gave up five runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings.
"Delivery wise I felt very good. I had good life on my fastball," McAllister said. "Every thing was good except for that curve ball to Cespedes. He's a really good hitter I wanted to be aggressive and I made too good of a pitch for him to hit."
McAllister had to iron out his mechanics after he was told he earned a spot in the starting rotation.
"My spring was up and down," McAllister said. "Half way through I got out of sync a little bit mechanically. I got a little frustrated by that. I was extremely happy today with my delivery. I wasn't happy with the results. I wanted to go out and put up zeros but I got my delivery back and that's what makes me successful
Brandon Moss doubled and Josh Reddick tripled for Oakland.
Grant Balfour, recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Feb. 14, retired all three batters he faced for the A's.
Indians closer Chris Perez made his first official spring appearance since straining his right shoulder on Feb. 26. He retired all three batters he faced, one by strikeout.
"Perez looked really good," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He felt good. He said he was a little rusty. I didn't look like that. He was throwing free and easy and letting it fly. The ball came out of his hands really well."
NOTES: Daisuke Matsuzaka and Matt Capps signed minor league contracts with the Indians. Both players were released from contracts earlier this week to avoid the $100,000 retention bonus that is mandated by the collective bargaining agreement. ... LHP Rich Hill, RHP Vinnie Pestano and RHP Matt Albers pitched in minor league games for the Indians. ... Cleveland SS Asdrubal Cabrera will rest one more day before taking batting practice. Cabrera has missed three games with back spasms. ... Balfour has made three appearances since returning from his surgery. "They told me I would be out 4-6 weeks and I'm back in four. All my stuff is ready for the season," Balfour said. He has retired all nine batters he's faced. ... Athletics 2B Adam Rosales was placed on the 15-day disabled list with strained left intercostal muscles (muscles in the ribs). Rosales was injured Monday night while making a throw in a game against Milwaukee. "It's too bad for a guy that was finally healthy again and putting together good at-bats. He is a tough one to lose," manager Bob Melvin said.
