Angels 3 - 5 Athletics
Final
  for this game

A's cut into Angels' AL West lead

Aug 23, 2014 - 6:57 AM Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Athletics trimmed the Angels' AL West lead by holding on for a 5-3 win in the opener of a three-game set at O.co Coliseum.

Sonny Gray (13-7) snapped a four-start losing streak, pitching 8 1/3 innings, and Sam Fuld hit a tiebreaking RBI triple in the sixth for Oakland, which is one game behind Los Angeles.

The win was just the third in the last 11 games for the A's, while the Angels had their winning streak snapped at four games.

"We haven't played a game like that, it doesn't seem that crisp like that for a while," A's manager Bob Melvin said.

The Angels threatened in the ninth after Gray departed. Closer Sean Doolittle gave up a David Freese RBI single, but struck out pinch-hitter Chris Iannetta swinging with the bases loaded to earn his 19th save.

"They certainly can shut you down when they get a lead," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

After Mike Trout and Coco Crisp traded first-inning home runs, Josh Hamilton took Gray deep in the fourth to give the Angels a 2-1 lead.

Oakland pulled even on an error in the fifth. Crisp hit a ground-rule double off Angels starter Hector Santiago and Craig Gentry, who was activated from the disabled list earlier Friday, drew a walk.

Josh Donaldson then hit a liner off Santiago's hand and Erick Aybar made an errant throw on a potential inning-ending double play. The ball skipped past first baseman Albert Pujols, allowing Crisp to score.

The A's moved ahead in the next inning. Jason Grilli (1-2) relieved Santiago to begin the sixth and allowed a one-out single to Alberto Callaspo, who came around when Fuld smacked a pitch to the gap in right-center field. Fuld scored on a Andy Parrino sacrifice fly to make it 4-2.

Stephen Vogt added a solo homer in the eighth for Oakland.

Game Notes

The Angels announced starting pitcher Garrett Richards underwent surgery Friday to repair the torn patellar tendon in his left knee. Recovery time is still expected to be from 6-to-9 months for the 26-year-old righty who was injured while trying to cover first base on a ground ball Wednesday at Fenway Park.






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