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Buck propels Athletics past Angels

Aug 4, 2007 - 11:40 PM By Tom Kent PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - Rookie Travis Buck made Kelvim Escobar pay for his mistake.

Buck drove in the decisive run in the seventh inning and Escobar's error in the sixth would prove costly as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 2-1, Saturday.

In the seventh, with the score knotted at 1-1 and runners on first and second with two outs, Buck was called on to pinch hit for catcher Rob Bowen. The rookie then lifted an RBI single to short right field off Escobar, plating Mark Ellis for the winning run.

"It was a split finger," Buck said. "This was the third time I faced him and that was probably one of the best splitters he's thrown. I just got lucky enough to get a good piece of the ball and get it out there.

"We only got two hits, but they were enough for us to get the win."

Leading 1-0 and with runners on first and second and one out in the sixth inning, Angels first baseman Casey Kotchman fielded Nick Swisher's ground ball and fired a strike to shortstop Orlando Cabrera for the force at second. Escobar, who was covering first base while trying to complete an inning-ending double play, then missed Cabrera's throw to the bag, allowing Donnie Murphy to score from second to even the score at 1-1.

"I should have made that play," Escobar said. "It's tough because you're going with speed to first base and I though the play was going to be close. The throw was away from me a little bit to the inside and it hit my glove, but I should have made that play."

"There's a lot going on with that play," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "It's a play you work on in spring training endlessly and guys get a feel for it. Kelvim got over there and just missed it."

Escobar (11-6), who suffered the loss in his last start against the Seattle Mariners on Monday despite allowing two runs in a complete-game effort, was stellar once again. The righthander yielded just two runs and two hits in seven innings while striking out two and walking a career-high tying seven batters.

"He walked seven guys, but outside of that, he pitched terrific," Scioscia said. "He gave us every opportunity to win. We just couldn't get the key hit in scoring situations. He pitched a great game though."

Escobar has received just two total runs of support over his last three starts.

Oakland starter Joe Blanton (9-8), who entered with an 0-4 record and 6.75 ERA over his last five starts, was stellar yielding just one run while scattering eight hits in seven innings. The righthander walked two and did not strike out a batter.

"I just tried to minimize the damage and keep it as close as possible," Blanton said. "That's all you can ask from a starter. To keep it close and give your team a chance to win the game."

Huston Street tossed a flawless eighth, as did Alan Embree in the ninth to notch his 13th save.

The Athletics, who entered with a 14-19 record against their American League West opponents, have taken eight of 12 games from the first-place Angels this season.

Anaheim's lone run came in the second inning when Casey Kotchman doubled to left field and Maicer Izturis followed with a single to center. Jeff Mathis then lifted an RBI sacrifice to right-center for a 1-0 edge.

Oakland won for the first time with two hits or fewer for the first time since August 5, 1998 against New York.