Final
A's hold off Halos
Sep 12, 2012 - 1:00 PM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Brandon Moss and Yoenis Cespedes each clubbed home runs to back a solid outing from Dan Straily on Tuesday, as the Oakland Athletics held off the Los Angeles of Anaheim, 6-5, in the second installment of a four-game set.Straily (2-0) surrendered three runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 frames to earn his second big league victory.
"In the middle of the third, Straily got really good," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "He worked really hard and almost got us a full seven."
Moss launched a two-run blast, while Cespedes added a solo shot for the A's, who have won 11 straight road games for the first time since April 9-26, 1981.
Oakland kept pace with Texas, which also won on Tuesday, and remained three games back in the AL West.
Jerome Williams (6-8) was tagged with the loss after giving up four runs on five hits over 3 1/3 frames.
Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter each went deep for the Angels, who have dropped two straight on the heels of a six-game winning streak to fall 7 1/2 games behind Texas and 2 1/2 games back of the final AL wild card spot.
"We had opportunities," Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "Tonight was one of those nights. We just didn't get it done."
After the Angels failed to score with runners on the corners and no outs in the first, Cespedes crushed the second pitch of the second inning into center field to provide the A's with a 1-0 advantage.
The Angels responded quickly in the bottom half as Erick Aybar smacked a leadoff single and Wells followed with a blast over the left-field wall to give the Halos a 2-1 edge.
Oakland jumped back in front in the fourth when Cespedes ripped a one-out single before Moss launched a towering shot into right-center field.
Josh Donaldson then singled and moved to third on a base hit from George Kottaras before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Stephen Drew for a 4-2 lead.
Hunter launched a two-out, solo homer in the seventh to chase Straily from the game. Pat Neshek entered and allowed Albert Pujols to reach on a Drew error, but Sean Doolittle finished off the frame by grounding out Kendrys Morales.
Oakland tacked on some insurance in the ninth, as Cliff Pennington smacked a two-out base hit and Coco Crisp followed with a triple into the right-field corner. Hunter had trouble fielding the ball as it bounced around in the corner, allowing Crisp to score for a 6-3 edge.
Grant Balfour walked back-to-back hitters to start the ninth before Hunter plated a run with a single back up the middle. Pujols followed with a base hit to left field to score Mike Trout and put runners on the corners with no outs.
Jerry Blevins entered and fanned Morales before getting Howie Kendrick to ground into a game-ending double play for his first save of the season.
Game Notes
Oakland has won five straight overall ... Williams has now lost six straight decisions ... The A's have homered in 16 of their last 17 games ... LA went 2- for-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base ... Aybar now has an 11-game hitting streak.
- OAKLAND: 6
LOS ANGELES: 5
Final
Sep 12 1:22 AM - Albert Pujols single to left scored Mike Trout with none out. On the play, Torii Hunter advances to third. Runners on first and third and Kendrys Morales due up.
Athletics 6, Angels 5 Bot 9, 0 OutsSep 12 1:14 AM - Torii Hunter single to center scored Chris Iannetta with none out. On the play, Mike Trout advances to third. Runners on first and third and Albert Pujols due up.
Athletics 6, Angels 4 Bot 9, 0 OutsSep 12 1:09 AM - Coco Crisp triple to right scored Cliff Pennington, and Crisp scored on Torii Hunter's fielding error with two outs. None on and Seth Smith due up.
Athletics 6, Angels 3 Top 9, 2 OutsSep 12 12:56 AM - Torii Hunter two-out, solo Home Run (14) to center. Albert Pujols due up.
Athletics 4, Angels 3 Bot 7, 2 OutsSep 12 12:20 AM - Brandon Moss one-out, two-run Home Run (18) to right scored Yoenis Cespedes. Josh Donaldson due up.
Athletics 3, Angels 2 Top 4, 1 OutSep 11 11:18 PM - Vernon Wells none-out, two-run Home Run (11) to left scored Erick Aybar. Alberto Callaspo due up.
Athletics 1, Angels 2 Bot 2, 0 OutsSep 11 10:39 PM - Josh Donaldson struck out looking. Runner on first with one out and George Kottaras due up.
Athletics 1, Angels 0 Top 2, 1 OutSep 11 10:29 PM - OAKLAND: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
Top 1, 1 Out
Sep 11 10:07 PM
Related News
- Anthony Rendon's Apathy Doesn't Bode Well for Angels Feb 21
- Elephant Rumblings: Post-Christmas lull at full throttle Dec 26
- Twas The Night Before Christmas... Dec 24
- Elephant Rumblings: Luis Morales a prospect to watch in 2024 Dec 24
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Lawrence Butler Dec 23
- Elephant Rumblings: Giants Strike Out in Free Agency Once Again Dec 23
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Esteury Ruiz Dec 22
- Elephant Rumblings: MLB approves 2024 rule changes Dec 22
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: JJ Bleday Dec 21
- Elephant Rumblings: Replies off, talk to the hand Dec 21
- Sean Newcomb undergoes knee surgery Dec 20
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Kevin Smith Dec 20