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Kendrick's homers help Angels get past A's

Sep 14, 2011 - 6:21 AM Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Howie Kendrick belted a pair of two-run homers, and the Angels turned four double plays in a 6-3 win over Oakland.

Maicer Izturis drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning for Los Angeles, which remained three games behind first-place Texas in the AL West. The Rangers beat Cleveland earlier Tuesday.

Jerome Williams allowed seven hits and walked five batters over 4 1/3 innings in the start for the Angels. Hisanori Takahashi (4-3) pitched 1 2/3 frames to get the win and Jordan Walden retired the side in order in the ninth for his 30th save.

Guillermo Moscoso, who came within four outs of a no-hitter his last time out, was charged with five hits and three runs over 4 2/3 frames Tuesday. Fautino De Los Santos (2-2) suffered the loss.

Josh Willingham knocked in two runs for the A's, who lost for just the third time in their last 13 home games vs. the Angels.

"Guys that normally come through for us didn't," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "On top of that we hit into double plays. It was a rough night for us offensively when we had runners on."

Erick Aybar singled to right to begin the seventh inning and moved to second on a Peter Bourjos sacrifice bunt. Hank Conger singled to center to put runners at the corners. Pinch-runner Mike Trout stole second. Izturis then hit a sharp bouncer up the middle, but with the infield playing in, shortstop Cliff Pennington's throw to the plate was wide, on the first base side.

Willingham grounded into a double play in the seventh and Kurt Suzuki followed suit in the eighth, both after the leadoff man reached base.

Bourjos bunted for hit against Michael Wuertz in the ninth, stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Kendrick homered to left- center field.

"We definitely need some guys to start moving forward and carry the momentum for us in these last couple of weeks," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Hopefully, Howie is going to be one of the guys that is in that group."

Aybar doubled to start the third inning. Bourjos then fouled out near the stands down the first base line. Aybar took off for third base, and Brandon Allen's throw across the field was wild, allowing the game's first run. Izturis singled with two outs and Kendrick followed by smacking his 17th homer of the year, a shot to center field.

The A's got within a run in the bottom half of the frame when Jemile Weeks doubled to center to drive in Michael Taylor and Willingham drew a bases- loaded walk with no outs. Williams avoided further damage by fanning Scott Sizemore and getting Ryan Sweeney to ground into a 4-6-3 double play.

In the fifth, consecutive walks to Pennington and Hideki Matsui led to Willingham's bloop double to right field past a diving Torii Hunter.

Game Notes

Walden became just the fifth rookie closer since 2000 to notch 30 or more saves...The A's have committed seven errors in the last six games...The three- game series concludes Wednesday afternoon with the Angels' Jered Weaver (16-7) facing Rich Harden (4-2).