• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

A's blow lead in ninth, but beat Angels in 10

Apr 28, 2011 - 3:00 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Cliff Pennington scored on Conor Jackson's high chopper in the 10th inning, boosting the Oakland Athletics to a 2-1 win over the Angels to avoid a three-game sweep.

After giving up a run in the bottom of the ninth, the A's went ahead in the 10th against Jordan Walden (0-1). Pennington tripled to left field. David DeJesus grounded back to the mound for the first out and Daric Barton was intentionally walked. Jackson then sent a high chopper to shortstop Erick Aybar, whose only play was to first base.

Brad Ziegler retired the side in order in the bottom of the 10th to get his first save of the year. Brian Fuentes (1-2), who blew the lead in the ninth, got the win.

Oakland starter Tyson Ross, making his second start of the season, allowed four hits, walked one and had three strikeouts over seven innings. The right- hander lost to Seattle on his 24th birthday last Friday.

"Tyson was pounding the zone and went after hitters," A's manager Bob Geren said. "That was the game plan and he did a terrific job. Both starters threw the ball well. They got a break to tie the game, we got a break to win the game."

Bobby Abreu doubled in the only run for Los Angeles, which lost for the fifth time in seven contests.

Dan Haren pitched masterfully, as he yielded just three hits and fanned five while walking a pair of batters over seven frames. The only run he allowed was unearned as a fielding error from Howie Kendrick led to the game's first score.

"I was a little all over the place in the beginning," Haren said. "I was bending not breaking. The last couple of innings were the best I felt all year."

There was controversy in the bottom of the ninth. Fuentes came on to try and close it out for the A's. Pinch-hitter Maicer Izturis grounded a ball to third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, whose bobble led to his sixth error of the season. Fuentes then hit Aybar with a pitch on the right knee. Home plate umpire Tim Timmons appealed to Jeff Kellogg at first base, and the ruling was changed to a foul ball. Replays clearly showed Aybar pulled his bat back and the ball hitting him on the knee and never striking the bat.

Aybar then put down a successful sacrifice bunt. Abreu was up next and doubled down the left field line on a 3-2 pitch to tie the game. Torii Hunter was intentionally walked, but Fuentes fanned Vernon Wells and retired Alberto Callaspo on a pop-up to send the game to the 10th.

Landon Powell walked to start the top of the third. Kouzmanoff then reached safely on Kendrick's gaffe. Pennington fouled out, but DeJesus was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Barton lifted a sacrifice fly to left field.

Game Notes

The Angels plated 13 runs on 24 hits over first two games of this series...Oakland went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position...The Angels had won eight in a row at home over the A's.