Indians Vs. Athletics Final Score: Justin Masterson Shelled As Cleveland Drops 5th Straight Game, 7-0

Unable to pick up a win for the fifth consecutive game, the Cleveland Indians came up short on Sunday in their series finale with the Oakland Athletics, 7-0.

The shutout loss not only gave the hosting Athletics a timely three-game sweep, but also moved Manny Acta's skidding Indians to a dismal 1-5 on their current road trip. Reinforcing his label as one of the most inconsistent starters in the American League once again in the finale, Indians right-hander Justin Masterson was shelled for seven earned runs over 5.2 innings to drop to 9-11 overall after taking the loss.

Despite giving up a total of 15 earned runs in two starts from July 23-28, Masterson actually entered Sunday on a hot streak with two straight wins in search of a third. The poor outing against a light-hitting Athletics lineup, however, now balloons the 6-foot-6 starter's season ERA up to 4.73, and adds further questions about what type of pitcher will appear in his next outing.

Offensively, Shin-Soo Choo and Casey Kotchman were the only Cleveland hitters to finish the day with a multi-hit games, as each player put forth a 2-for-4 performance from the plate. Oakland starter Jarrod Parker's eight innings of six-hit ball proved to be the difference in the end, as Acta's ice cold squad now faces the Seattle Mariners over a three-game series that opens Monday.

Check out Let's Go Tribe for more Indians coverage, and be sure to visit Athletics Nation for more A's baseball news. Also head over to Baseball Nation for even more analysis from around the league.

Indians Vs. Athletics Starting Lineups: Jason Kipnis Out On Sunday

The Cleveland Indians will attempt to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Oakland A's on Sunday afternoon, and they'll be doing so without lead-off hitter Jason Kipnis. The second baseman has been struggling of late, and he's been day-to-day with a sore neck.

Against the A's, Kipnis has not recorded a hit in eight at-bats. Cleveland fell at Oakland 6-4 on Friday and 8-5 on Saturday.

Cleveland Indians Lineup

1. Ezequiel Carrera - LF

2. Asdrubal Cabrera - SS

3. Shin-Soo Choo - RF

4. Carlos Santana - DH

5. Michael Brantley - CF

6. Casey Kotchman - 1B

7. Brent Lillibridge - 2B

8. Jack Hannahan - 3B

9. Lou Marson - C

Justin Masterson - P

Oakland A's Lineup

1. Coco Crisp - CF

2. Josh Donaldson - 3B

3. Josh Reddick - RF

4. Yoenis Cespedes - DH

5. Chris Carter - 1B

6. Brandon Moss - LF

7. Derek Norris - C

8. Cliff Pennington - SS

9. Jemile Weeks - 2B

Jarrod Parker -P

Check out Let's Go Tribe for more on the Indians, or take a peek at more MLB news at Baseball Nation.

Indians Vs. Athletics Preview: Cleveland Looks To Avoid Five-Game Skid

The Cleveland Indians are over halfway through their nine-game West coast road trip and over that five game span, they've won just once. The Tribe is in the midst of a four-game losing streak and will be looking to avoid increasing that number in their series finale against the Oakland Athletics.

Over their last 21 games, the Indians are 4-17 and have fallen completely out of the playoff race as the team is now playing for pride and trying to finish the season strong.

Indians manager Manny Acta will send Justin Masterson to the mound against the A's on Sunday. The right-hander has a record of 9-10 this season with a 4.50 ERA, and if Cleveland is going to bring its losing streak to an end, Masterson is the right pitcher to help them accomplish their goal.

The 27-year-old has won his last two starts, first against the Minnesota Twins at home on Aug. 8, then in the first game of Cleveland's road trip against the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 13.

First pitch from Oakland Coliseum will be at 4:05 p.m. ET.

For more on the Indians, read Let's Go Tribe. For more on the A's, read Athletics Nation.

Indians Vs. Athletics Final Score: Cleveland Loses To Oakland 8-5

The Cleveland Indians lost to the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night, falling by a final score of 8-5.

The Indians were unable to muster much of anything against A's starting pitcher Bartolo Colon, who allowed just five hits in eight innings of work. Cleveland's lone run against Colon came in the top of the seventh on a solo homer by catcher Carlos Santana, his 13th on the season. The Indians made it 8-3 in the ninth after a two-run shot by outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, which was followed up by another two-run homer by pinch hitter Brent Lillibridge. It was still too little, too late for the Indians, who were unable to complete the rally.

Cleveland starting pitcher Corey Kluber gave up four runs (none earned) in five innings. Relievers Frank Herrmann and Chris Seddon gave up two runs each, putting the game out of reach for the Indians.

The A's did most of their damage in the third inning, scoring four times to take an early lead. They scored their last two runs of the game off Seddon in the bottom of the eighth.

The loss drops Cleveland's record to 54-66, while the Athletics improve to 64-55. The final game of the series will be played on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET.

For more on the Indians, read Let's Go Tribe. For more on the A's, read Athletics Nation.

Indians Vs. Athletics Preview: Cleveland Hopes To End 3-Game Losing Streak

The Cleveland Indians blew a 4-0 lead to drop the series opener against the Oakland Athletics, 6-4, on Friday. The Tribe hopes to get a measure of revenge in Game 2 of the three-game series at O.co Coliseum on Saturday at 9:05 p.m. ET. In the process, the Indians are also looking to stem a three-game losing streak and turn around what has been an ugly August.

Cleveland's Corey Kluber (0-1, 8.56 ERA) and Oakland's Bartolo Colon (9-9, 3.55) will be the starting pitchers for the game. Kluber will be making just his fourth major league appearance this season as he searches for his first career win. He gave up six earned runs off seven hits in just 3.1 innings against the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 12. Colon, a former Indian, has gone 3-1 over his last five outings.

Date/Time: 9:05 p.m. ET

TV: STO

Online Streaming: MLB.tv

For more on the Indians, read Let's Go Tribe. For more on the A's, read Athletics Nation.

Indians Vs. Athletics Final Score: Cleveland Blows 4-Run Lead, Loses 6-4 Friday

The Cleveland Indians took a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning off a Shelley Duncan grand slam and promptly gave it back as the Oakland Athletics rallied to win 6-4 on Friday in the opening game of the three-game series at O.co Coliseum. Starter Zach McAllister gave up four runs, all earned, in the fourth and fifth innings to relinquish the lead. He struck out six, but also gave up eight hits and a walk in his six innings on the mound.

Oakland starter Tommy Milone walked Carlos Santana to lead off the fourth inning, and Michael Brantley and Jason Donald singled to load the bases on the next two at-bats. Duncan cleared the bases for his first career grand slam and 11th home run of the season. Milone retired three straight batters to end the inning, however.

The A's scored on three consecutive at-bats in the bottom of the inning to cut into the Indians' lead, 4-3, heading into the fifth. They tied the game on a Yoenis Cespedes sacrifice fly to drive in Chris Carter.

Joe Smith (7-3) was tagged with the loss after putting the game-winning runs on base before leaving with just one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. Josh Donaldson hit a single to left scoring Adam Rosales for what would prove to be the decisive run. Donaldson finished 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs on the night.

A's reliever Jordan Norberto (4-1) was given the win for giving up no hits and striking out two in 1 2/3 innings over the course of seventh and eighth innings. Grant Balfour earned his 10th save of the season.

For more on the Indians, read Let's Go Tribe. For more on the A's, read Athletics Nation.

Indians vs. Athletics: Indians Continue West Coast Trip Against Oakland A's

Cleveland starts three-game series with Oakland in midst of nine-game west coast trip.