MLB: Oakland 2, Cleveland 1

Brad Ziegler struck out Kelly Shoppach with the potential tying run on second base Friday, preserving Oakland’s 2-1 victory over Cleveland.

The Athletics won their fifth in a row, taking a shutout into the ninth inning before Ziegler picked up his seventh save.

Shin-Soo Choo singled with one out in the ninth and scored on a two-out double by Matt LaPorta.

Shoppach, with a chance to send the game into extra innings, looked at a called third strike on a 1-2 pitch.

Nomar Garciaparra doubled home one of Oakland’s runs in the second and Mark Ellis had an RBI single later in the inning.

Brett Anderson (10-10) struck out 10 and allowed four hits over six innings to get the victory.

The loss went to David Huff (10-8). He gave up two runs on seven hits in six innings.