Santana's HR helps Tribe defeat A's

Cleveland Indians' Carlos Santana points up after hitting a solo home run off Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy in the seventh inning. It was Santana's 20th homer of the season.

CLEVELAND — Carlos Santana homered and David Huff and four relievers combined to limit the Oakland Athletics to five hits in the Cleveland Indians’ 2-1 win Monday night.

Huff (2-2) gave up three hits over six scoreless innings to win for the first time in six starts, since beating Minnesota in his season debut on July 18.

Chris Perez worked a perfect ninth for his 30th save in 34 chances for Cleveland, which has won three of four.

Santana hit his 20th homer to give Cleveland a 2-0 lead in the seventh inning against Brandon McCarthy (7-7), who lost for the second time in nine starts since July 15. It was only the eighth homer allowed by the right-hander and seventh without a runner on base.

Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the sixth. Ezequiel Carrera lined a two-out single to center and scored all the way from first on a double into the right-field corner by Kosuke Fukudome.

The Athletics broke through in the eighth against relievers Joe Smith and Tony Sipp.

Scott Sizemore lined a leadoff double off Smith. Sipp came on and Sizemore stole third. Jemile Weeks followed with an RBI double to get the Athletics within 2-1.

After Coco Crisp failed to advance Weeks with a bunt, Hideki Matsui backed Fukudome up against the wall in right field with a fly ball that sent Weeks to third.

Vinnie Pestano replaced Sipp and got Josh Willingham on a called third strike to strand Weeks. Willingham slammed his batting helmet to the ground after umpire Rob Drake made the call on a pitch that appeared low and outside of the strike zone.

McCarthy struck out 10 over eight innings, allowing two runs, five hits and only one walk.

The Athletics have averaged 6.1 runs in McCarthy’s seven wins and only 1.6 runs in his seven losses.

Notes: Indians 2B Jason Donald was a late scratch with a contusion of his right index finger. He hurt it fielding a ground ball Sunday. ... Oakland sent RHP Graham Godfrey to Triple-A Sacramento and is expected to call up a player Tuesday. ... Cleveland will recall RHP Jeanmar Gomez to start Tuesday and will make a corresponding roster move. ... Huff was the 13th lefty faced by the Athletics in 21 games, going 6-7. Oakland is 22-24 overall against lefties.