WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — The Cleveland Guardians used a balanced offensive attack and timely pitching to defeat the Athletics 8-5 on Friday night at Sutter Health Park, snapping a two-game losing streak and improving to 17-16 while dropping the Athletics to 17-15.

Right fielder Chase DeLauter went 4 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs, and first baseman Rhys Hoskins homered and drove in three runs as Cleveland erased an early deficit and never trailed after the fifth inning. The game, played before 12,122 fans, lasted 3 hours, 11 minutes.

Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker launched a two-run homer in the first inning to give the home side a quick 2-0 lead, but the Guardians answered in the second. With two outs, second baseman Travis Bazzana drew a walk and catcher Bo Naylor singled, putting runners at the corners. Shortstop Brayan Rocchio popped out, but left fielder Steven Kwan also popped out, bringing DeLauter to the plate with two outs. DeLauter drove a double to right field, scoring both Bazzana and Naylor to tie the game at 2. DeLauter’s hit was the first of his four on the night.

Athletics starter J.T. Ginn settled in for a scoreless third, but the Athletics regained the lead in the fourth. Third baseman Darell Hernaiz walked and first baseman Tyler Soderstrom also walked. After a sacrifice bunt by right fielder Colby Thomas moved both runners into scoring position, center fielder Zack Gelof singled to left, driving in Hernaiz and Soderstrom for a 4-2 lead. Second baseman Jeff McNeil followed with a single to center, but a throwing error by center fielder Daniel Schneemann allowed McNeil to take second. The Athletics then challenged a tag play at home that was upheld, and the inning ended on a flyout.

Cleveland took the lead for good in the fifth. Kwan walked and DeLauter walked, and after a popout, third baseman Kyle Manzardo walked to load the bases. Hoskins then delivered a sharp double to right field, clearing the bases as Kwan and DeLauter scored and Manzardo moved to third. Angel Martínez followed with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Manzardo and giving the Guardians a 5-4 advantage. The inning ended with a strikeout, but Cleveland had taken control.

The Guardians added three more runs in the seventh. Hoskins led off with a solo home run to left field, his second of the season. After a flyout, Bazzana walked again and Naylor doubled to right, scoring Bazzana. Rocchio then doubled to left, driving in Naylor for an 8-4 lead. Kwan struck out to end the inning, but the damage was done.

The Athletics scratched across a run in the bottom of the seventh. Shortstop Jacob Wilson singled, catcher Shea Langeliers walked and first baseman Nick Kurtz walked to load the bases. Rooker singled to left, scoring Wilson and cutting the deficit to 8-5. But relief pitcher Connor Brogdon struck out Hernaiz and Soderstrom, and right fielder Colby Thomas flew out to end the threat. The Athletics put two runners on in the eighth, but a fielding error by Rocchio at shortstop gave them an extra baserunner. However, reliever Cade Smith struck out Langeliers and Kurtz to escape the inning. Smith then worked a perfect ninth, retiring Rooker, Carlos Cortes and Soderstrom in order to earn his eighth save of the season.

Guardians starter Joey Cantillo lasted three innings, allowing two runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Erik Sabrowski, who relieved Cantillo, pitched a scoreless fourth and fifth innings to pick up his first win of the season against one loss. Sabrowski allowed two hits and struck out one. Matt Festa followed with a scoreless sixth, allowing no hits and striking out none. Brogdon threw two-thirds of an inning, allowing one hit and striking out one, and Smith finished with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out two.

Athletics right-hander J.T. Ginn took the loss, dropping to 0-1. Ginn allowed five runs on six hits over 4 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out three. He was relieved by Kyle Muller, who gave up three runs in the seventh.

DeLauter’s 4-for-4 night was the offensive highlight, as he also scored twice. Kwan went 2 for 4 with two walks and two runs scored. Naylor finished 2 for 5 with an RBI and a run. Hoskins drove in three runs on two hits, including his home run. Rocchio went 1 for 5 with an RBI. For the Athletics, Rooker drove in three runs with two hits, including his third homer of the season. Gelof had two RBIs, and McNeil had two hits.

The Guardians had 11 hits to the Athletics’ 9. Cleveland did not commit an error, while the Athletics made one. The victory was Cleveland’s second in its past nine games against the Athletics, and it moved the Guardians back to .500 on the season. The Athletics had won three of their previous four games.

The game’s pivotal moment came in the fifth inning. With the Guardians trailing 4-2 after the Athletics’ fourth-inning rally, Cleveland loaded the bases with no outs on walks by Kwan and DeLauter and an intentional walk to Manzardo. Hoskins then crushed a double to right field, clearing the bases and giving Cleveland the lead. The hit turned the momentum entirely, and the Guardians never looked back, adding insurance runs in the seventh.

The Interstat game simulator had projected a final score of Athletics 5, Guardians 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Cleveland a 51.40 percent probability to win. Cleveland was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5. The total of 13 runs went under the over/under line of 9. The two teams will meet again Saturday at Sutter Health Park.