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A's score six runs in first, top Angels

Sep 23, 2014 - 5:55 AM Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Oakland Athletics scored a month's worth of runs in the opening frame -- at least it must've seemed that way to Jeff Samardzija.

Samardzija fired seven solid innings and the Oakland Athletics defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 8-4, in the opener of a three-game set.

The A's plated six runs on just two hits in the first inning, capitalizing on four C.J. Wilson walks.

"He was a little bit wild," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "It was good to see us take the walks and not be too aggressive."

That was more than enough support for Samardzija (5-5), who has been backed by just five total runs in his last four starts. He's 0-2 during that stretch, with Oakland scoring one run or less in three of those outings.

Samardzija, who has thrown 23 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run, gave up an unearned one on five hits with three strikeouts for the A's, who have won three of their last four games on the heels of a 5-15 stretch.

Oakland is one game ahead of Kansas City for the AL's first wild-card spot and three in front of Seattle for a postseason berth.

Wilson (13-10) lasted just two-thirds of an inning, with four of his six runs surrendered being earned.

"He pitched a tremendous game for us last outing," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "This was, obviously, a tough start for him."

Albert Pujols smacked a three-run homer for the Angels, who have dropped six of their last nine games.

The Halos are 2 1/2 games ahead of Baltimore for home-field advantage in the American League after the O's were blanked 5-0 by the New York Yankees earlier on Monday.

Oakland's huge home first came after Mike Trout's sacrifice fly in the top of the frame opened the scoring.

Coco Crisp singled to lead off the first before being forced out at second on a Sam Fuld grounder. Three consecutive walks to Josh Donaldson, Jonny Gomes and Derek Norris plated Fuld. After Jed Lowrie popped out, Nate Freiman walked to bring home Donaldson.

Geovany Soto followed with a single up the middle to send Wilson to an early shower. Mike Morin came on and induced a grounder to third off the bat of Nick Punto, but David Freese's throwing error allowed Freiman and Soto to come home and give the A's a 6-1 advantage.

Stephen Vogt's two-run single in the seventh increased the margin to 8-1 before Pujols' mammoth three-run blast deep into the seats in left-center trimmed the gap to 8-4.

The Halos put runners on the corners with one away in the ninth, but Luke Gregerson induced a game-ending 6-4-3 double play from Gordon Beckham.

Game Notes

Wilson was 5-0 with a 2.79 ERA over his last eight starts against Oakland coming in ... Oakland was 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position, while the Angels finished 2-for-7.