Athletics 3 - 4 Angels
Final/10
  for this game

Kendrick lifts Angels over A's in extras

Aug 29, 2014 - 7:29 AM Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Howie Kendrick's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th lifted the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim over the Oakland Athletics, 4-3, in the opener of a key four-game series.

Ryan Cook (1-2), who recorded the final out in the ninth, stayed on to pitch the 10th for Oakland. Albert Pujols walked, moved to third on Josh Hamilton's single to right-center field and scored on Kendrick's sac fly to right.

"He left one up and I was able to drive it to right," Kendrick said.

The victory gave the Angels a two-game lead over the A's for first place in the AL West.

But the Athletics played Thursday's game under protest following an obstruction call on Oakland pitcher Dan Otero in the bottom of the ninth.

Erick Aybar reached first on the defensive interference call. Aybar hit a chopper down the first-base line that resulted in Otero colliding with first baseman Brandon Moss. Aybar then ran into Otero, who had the ball in his glove, causing a very confusing sequence. Home plate umpire Greg Gibson awarded Aybar first base because he was obstructed. A's manager Bob Melvin argued the call and put the game under protest.

"They said he has to have a clear lane to the base -- and one, he's way out of the baseline, and two, he tried to make contact with the fielder," Melvin said.

Pinch-hitter John McDonald followed with a bunt single that left Otero and Moss looking at each other. Following a sacrifice bunt, Gordon Beckham was intentionally walked to load the bases. Fernando Abad came in from the bullpen and got Kole Calhoun to pop out. Mike Trout then grounded into a fielder's choice, which only happened thanks to a sprawling save from second baseman Alberto Callaspo.

Fernando Salas (5-0) tossed a scoreless top of the 10th to pick up the win for the Angels, who have won three in a row.

The Angels jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second. Hamilton, Kendrick and Aybar hit three straight singles to plate a run. The runners moved up to second and third on a pair of wild pitches. Following two quick outs, Beckham hit a two-run single to right.

The home team left the bases loaded in the third.

Oakland put two runs on the board in the fifth. Moss led off with a single and raced home on Geovany Soto's double to right. Two batters later, Coco Crisp hit an RBI single to center.

Josh Donaldson led off the sixth with a homer to make it 3-3. The A's went on to load the bases later in the inning, but pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt struck out swinging.

Game Notes

Oakland fell to 8-5 against the Angels this season ... A's starter Sonny Gray gave up three runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts over seven innings ... C.J. Wilson got the start for Los Angeles and allowed three runs on seven hits with three walks over 5 2/3 innings.






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