CLEVELAND — It was a marathon milestone Wednesday for the Indians.

The Indians' Jack Hannahan, second from right, is mobbed by teammates after hitting a single off Oakland Athletics' Josh Outman in the 16th inning last night. (AP photo.)

Playing in the 1,400th game in the history of Jacobs/Progressive Field, Cleveland and Oakland needed 16 innings to complete the Indians’ 4-3 victory.

In the end, which came a little more than five hours after it began, there was no surprise who the hero for Cleveland was — Jack Hannahan, who stayed hot with a monster night that included the game-winning hit.

Hannahan’s one-out single up the middle off Oakland’s Josh Outman scored a sliding Cord Phelps to touch off a long-awaited celebration.

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“It was a long day, but it was worth it at the end,” said manager Manny Acta, whose team won for the sixth time in seven games to remain 5½ games behind first-place Detroit, while moving back into second place a half-game in front of the White Sox.

It was the third time this season that the Indians have played at least 14 innings, with the lengthy affair qualifying for the second time in park history that Cleveland has played at least 16 innings.

Nearly all of the credit goes to Hannahan, who drove in three of Cleveland’s runs, with the first two RBIs coming on a pair of solo home runs — one in the second inning and the other in the sixth.

“Jack Hannahan had a huge night,” Acta said of his third baseman, who has been the Indians’ hottest hitter of late, batting .429 (21-for-49) with three homers and 13 RBIs over his last 13 games.

Hannahan homered in consecutive games for the first time in his career.

“I’m a streaky hitter and I’ve been through this before,” said Hannahan, who entered the season as a .224 hitter in two-plus seasons. “I’m just seeing the ball really well.”

Neither starting pitcher, Cleveland’s Ubaldo Jimenez nor Oakland’s Rich Harden, figured in the decision, with both producing nearly identical lines.

Jimenez allowed three runs on six hits (one home run) over six innings, while walking two and striking out six. The only difference on Harden’s line were the two homers he served up to Hannahan.

Jimenez, who entered the night allowing just one earned run in two starts over 15 innings at home since being acquired in a trade with Colorado, scuffled early, but got better as the game wore on.

He allowed single runs in the second through fourth innings before striking out six of the last seven batters he faced. He fanned five straight from the last out in the fourth until the first out in the sixth.

With both bullpens rising to the occasion in place of the starters, neither team had many opportunities late, but the Indians blew a golden one an inning before they won it.

Jason Donald’s double started the 15th, accounting for the first Cleveland hit since a leadoff single in the seventh by Lou Marson. Donald advanced to third on a fly ball from Jerad Head, but Marson struck out and, after a walk to Ezequiel Carrera, Kosuke Fukudome fanned as well to end the inning.

“We had opportunities to get it done but they didn’t roll over,” Acta said. “That’s the main thing. As long as we win, it’s all good.”

The Indians improved to 783-617 all-time at Progressive Field.

With the Indians’ bullpen depleted, the club will most likely add a pitcher or two from Triple-A Columbus for the series finale today (12:05 p.m.). This is the first day major league rosters can expand to 40 players.

“We’re probably going to have some reinforcements here (today),” Acta said.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

CLEVELAND — Indians manager Manny Acta had some surprising news prior to Wednesday’s game against Oakland — designated hitter Travis Hafner will play again before the season is complete.

There was strong speculation that Hafner’s year was over after he was placed on the disabled list with a right foot strain and Cleveland traded for Jim Thome to replace him in the lineup. But things changed after an evaluation by team doctors Wednesday.

“He got some encouraging news. I think we’re going to be able to see him again,” Acta said. “We don’t have a timetable yet, but that’s encouraging news to know that he’s going to join our club and be able to play again this year.”

With neither Thome and Hafner able to play every night, Acta envisions a platoon at DH.

“Coming from the injury that Hafner’s going to be coming back from, obviously he’s not going to be able to play every single day,” Acta said. “Thome’s in the same situation, so they’ll share duties.

“It’ll give me an advantage now in September. I’ll be able to pinch run for either of them in the seventh now, and then I’ll have whichever didn’t play to bat in the ninth.”

Hafner, who has been on the DL twice this season, is batting .281 with 11 home runs and 49 RBIs in 82 games.

Grady gab

Grady Sizemore (right knee) began a rehab assignment Wednesday for Double-A Akron, serving as the designated hitter and going 0-for-3. He is expected to play six innings in center field for the Aeros tonight, but there is still no timetable for his return.

“It all depends on his progress,” Acta said. “That’s why we can’t sit here and say three to four days or whatever. It all depends on how he feels and when he feels he is going to be able to come up here and contribute.”

Brantley bit

Outfielder Michael Brantley underwent surgery on his right hand Wednesday and is expected to make a full recovery.

Brantley was shut down for the season Sunday. He hit .266 with seven homers and 46 RBIs in 114 games.

Finally, Fukudome

After a slow start, Fukudome has settled in to his new surroundings. The outfielder acquired at the trading deadline from the Cubs entered Wednesday batting .320 (24-for-75) with seven doubles, a homer and eight RBIs over his last 19 games.

He was batting .283 in his first 30 games with Cleveland through Tuesday, driving in his 13th run for the Indians with a sacrifice fly in the first inning. He had the same RBI total in 87 games for the Cubs.

“I have to give it to him,” Acta said. “From Day 1, he’s been good in the clubhouse. It takes time to get comfortable with new surroundings and new teammates. He gives us everything he’s got. He’s done a lot of good things.”

“I think I’m getting used to the team,” Fukudome said through an interpreter. “I still have pitchers I don’t know, but I think I’m able to do some things I want to do at the plate.”

Minor details

• Outfielder Trevor Crowe had one of Triple-A Columbus’ two hits Tuesday in a 2-1 loss at Louisville. It was Crowe’s first game with the Clippers after his rehab assignment was transferred from the Arizona League Indians.
• As a pinch hitter on his 24th birthday Tuesday, High-A Kinston infielder Tyler Cannon drove in the winning run with a single in a 2-1 victory over Frederick. Cannon, a 12th-round draft pick last year, was batting .253 with six homers and 38 RBIs in 85 games.

Roundin’ third

• Today is the day that major league rosters can expand to 40 players.
• Of the nine players in the Indians’ lineup Wednesday, six of them had zero or one homer on the season.
• Cleveland’s game time at Texas on Sept. 14 has been moved from 8:05 p.m. to 7:05 to accommodate ESPN, which will televise the game nationally. It can be seen locally on STO.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

CLEVELAND — It was a marathon milestone Wednesday for the Indians.

Playing in the 1,400th game in the history of Jacobs/Progressive Field, Cleveland and Oakland needed 16 innings to complete the Indians’ 4-3 victory.

In the end, which came a little over five hours after it began, there was no surprise who the hero for Cleveland was — Jack Hannahan, who stayed hot with a monster night that included the game-winning hit.

Hannahan’s one-out single up the middle off Oakland’s Josh Outman scored a sliding Cord Phelps to touch off a long-awaited celebration.

“It was a long day, but it was worth it at the end,” said manager Manny Acta, whose team won for the sixth time in seven games to remain 5 1/2 games behind first-place Detroit, while moving back into second place a half game in front of the White Sox.

It was the third time this season that the Indians have played at least 14 innings, with the lengthy affair qualifying for the second time in park history that Cleveland has played at least 16 innings.

Nearly all of the credit goes to Hannahan, who drove in three of Cleveland’s runs, with the first two RBIs coming on a pair of solo home runs — one in the second inning and the other in the sixth.

“Jack Hannahan had a huge night,” Acta said of his third baseman, who has been the Indians’ hottest hitter as of late, batting .429 (21-for-49) with three homers and 13 RBIs over his last 13 games.

Hannahan homered in consecutive games for the first time in his career.

“I’m a streaky hitter and I’ve been through this before,” said Hannhan, who entered the season as a .224 hitter in two-plus seasons. “I’m just seeing the ball really well.”

Neither starting pitcher, Cleveland’s Ubaldo Jimenez nor Oakland’s Rich Harden figured in the decision, with both producing nearly identical lines.

Jimenez allowed three runs on six hits (one home run) over six innings, while walking two and striking out six. The only difference on Harden’s line were the two homers he served up to Hannahan.

Jimenez, who entered the night allowing just one earned run in two starts — 15 innings — at home since being acquired in a trade with Colorado, scuffled early, but got better as the game wore on.

He allowed single runs in the second through fourth innings before striking out six of the last seven batters he faced. He fanned five straight from the last out in the fourth until the first out in the sixth.

With both bullpens rising to the occasion in place of the starters, neither team had many opportunities late, but the Indians blew a golden one an inning before they won it.

Jason Donald’s double started the 15th, accounting for the first Cleveland hit since a leadoff single in the seventh from Lou Marson. Donald advanced to third on a fly ball from Jerad Head, but Marson struck out, and after a walk to Ezequiel Carrera, Kosuke Fukudome fanned as well to end the inning.

“We had opportunities to get it done but they didn’t roll over,” Acta said. “That’s the main thing. As long as we win, it’s all good.”

The Indians improved to 783-617 all-time at Progressive Field.

With the Indians’ bullpen depleted, the club will most likely add a pitcher or two from Triple-A Columbus for the series finale today (12:05 p.m.). This is the first day major league rosters can expand to 40 players.

“We’re probably going to have some reinforcements here (today),” Acta said.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

A Jack Hannahan RBI single Wednesday night ended a marathon night at Progressive Field with the Indians winning 4-3 in 16 innings.

Hannahan, who has been Cleveland’s hottest hitter as of late, also hit a pair of home runs in the game.

The Indians won for the fifth time in six games to remain 5 1/2 games behind first-place Detroit, while climbing back into second place a half game in front of the White Sox.