Facing a pitcher with a 2-11 record would give any team confidence.

“Hey, we can beat him, too!”

That didn’t happen last night, as Luis Severino and the Sacramento Athletics beat the Cleveland Guardians 8-2 at Progressive Field.

Jose Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the third inning to put Cleveland on top. But then the plan fell apart.

The Guardians only had three hits for the entire game. The others were singles by Angel Martinez and Nolan Jones.

That offensive production won’t beat Severino or anyone else.

HERE COME THE A’S

The Athletics’ young power hitters took over in the fourth off Logan Allen (6-8).

Nick Kurtz hit an RBI double and scored on a double by Shea Langeliers. Miguel Andujar’s single gave the A’s a 3-2 lead.

That score held up until the eighth inning, when the roof caved in on the Guardians’ bullpen.

Nic Enright gave up a two-run homer to Langeliers in the eighth to extend the Athletics’ lead to 5-2.

Sacramento’s two Rookie of the Year candidates, Jacob Wilson and Kurtz, both homered off Kolby Allard in the ninth inning.

TODAY’S BIG GAME

The final game of the series is important because the Cleveland front office is trying to decide whether the Guardians will contend for a playoff spot.

Winning the series would be a vote in favor of keeping the team together. A loss could means that Cleveland would be sellers with the trade deadline coming on July 31.

Gavin Williams (5-4) will throw the first pitch for Cleveland at 1:40 p.m. Jeffrey Springs (8-6) will start for the Athletics.