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Athletics plan to stay on track vs. Angels

Sep 23, 2014 - 2:53 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Oakland Athletics seem to be getting hot at the right moment and on Tuesday try to get even closer to locking up an American League wild card berth when they continue a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at O.co Coliseum.

Oakland finally gave Jeff Samardzija some support on Monday and he responded with seven solid innings and the Athletics rolled, 8-4.

The A's plated six runs on just two hits in the first inning, capitalizing on four C.J. Wilson walks.

"He was a little bit wild," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "It was good to see us take the walks and not be too aggressive."

That was more than enough support for Samardzija (5-5), who has been backed by just five total runs in his last four starts. He's 0-2 during that stretch, with Oakland scoring one run or less in three of those outings.

Samardzija, who has thrown 23 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run, gave up an unearned one on five hits with three strikeouts for the A's, who have won three of their last four games on the heels of a 5-15 stretch.

Oakland is one game ahead of Kansas City for the AL's first wild-card spot and three in front of Seattle for a postseason berth.

Wilson (13-10) lasted just two-thirds of an inning, with four of his six runs surrendered being earned.

"He pitched a tremendous game for us last outing," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "This was, obviously, a tough start for him."

Albert Pujols smacked a three-run homer for the Angels, who have dropped six of their last nine games.

The Halos are 2 1/2 games ahead of Baltimore for home-field advantage in the American League after the O's were blanked 5-0 by the New York Yankees earlier on Monday.

Getting the call for Oakland on Tuesday will be right-hander Sonny Gray, who has just one win in his last 10 starts. Gray lost for the sixth time in seven decisions on Thursday against Texas, as he allowed five runs (4 earned) and eight hits in five innings to fall to 13-9 to go along with a 3.28 ERA.

"I just dug us in a hole a little bit too deep," Gray said. "If you give up four in the first, nine times out of 10 you're not going to recover."

Gray has faced the Angels five times (4 starts) and is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, will hand the ball to lefty Wade LeBlanc, who will make his second straight start for the Angels. LeBlanc tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings against Seattle on Thursday, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 3-1 loss. He is 0-1 on the year with a 5.24 ERA.

"I'm starting to settle in a little bit, get a little more comfortable mechanically and then pitching to my strengths more than trying to force the issue with certain pitches in certain counts," LeBlanc said.

The A's have won nine of their 17 meetings with the Angels this season.