Gonzalez outstanding; Bailey gets All-Star nod

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CLEVELAND -- Rookie left-hander Gio Gonzalez was the Athletics' star of the day. Fellow rookie Andrew Bailey is Oakland's All-Star.

With the Athletics having come up flat in the weekend's first two games in Cleveland, Gonzalez enjoyed the best day of his brief career to help Oakland salvage a 5-2 victory over the Indians and avoid a sweep.

Bailey, another rookie, might have been the biggest surprise Sunday, earning a selection to the American League All-Star team.

The reliever wasn't even expected to make the Athletics' roster out of spring training, having never pitched above Double-A ball. But in three months, he's climbed the bullpen ladder into the closer's role. American League manager Joe Maddon of Tampa Bay tapped Bailey as one of his eight selections to the 33-player squad.

"I was in Double-A last year, struggling as a starter (before converting to relief)," Bailey said. "Now I'm a major league All-Star. It's two different ends of the spectrum. It's going to be a great experience compared to where I was. I'm on cloud nine. It seems like things keep adding on."

Gonzalez, was pretty excited himself on Sunday after allowing two runs in six efficient innings. He also benefited from an A's offense that chipped away at defending American League Cy Young winner Cliff Lee.

The Athletics have been looking for Gonzalez to command the strike zone and navigate the rough patches throughout an extended outing. Sunday's effort was the best display of his considerable ability in 10 major league starts dating back to last season.

He struck out eight, a career high, and walked just one.

"He made big steps forward," A's manager Bob Geren said.

Gonzalez did so in his third start since being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento, earning his second career victory.

Bailey, who received word he made the All-Star team shortly before the first pitch, handled the final 1ª innings for his ninth save in 13 attempts.

Kurt Suzuki's single scored Adam Kennedy in the top of the first to give the A's the lead.

After Cleveland tied it in the third, Matt Holliday's opposite-field RBI single in the fifth gave the A's a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Gonzalez (1-2) allowed Jhonny Peralta's sixth-inning homer to pull Cleveland to within 3-2.

The A's added a run in the eighth, then Orlando Cabrera lined a homer over the left field wall to make it 5-2.

TRADE -- The A's swung a trade for San Diego Padres outfielder Scott Hairston on Sunday night in exchange for minor league pitchers Ryan Webb and Craig Italiano and a player to be named. Hairston, 29, was hitting .299 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs in 56 games for San Diego.