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Athletics down sloppy Angels in ninth

Sep 18, 2008 - 6:21 AM OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics took advantage of two errors in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday to post a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

After Mark Teixeira gave the Angels a 2-1 lead with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth, rookie Daric Barton led off the bottom of the frame with a single to center field. Barton advanced to second when center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. made an errant throw to the infield.

"That's just something that shouldn't happen," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "The ball gets by what should have been three guys there and there's nothing to do but control the ball in that situation and that should not happen.

"You've got two guys out there to get a 60-foot throw and we miss it! It wasn't a strong game for us those last couple of innings."

Closer Francisco Rodriguez (2-3) walked Jack Hannahan, bringing rookie Cliff Pennington to the plate. Pennington squared to bunt initially, but pulled the bat back and swung at Rodriguez's first offering, chopping the ball directly off the plate and straight up into the air.

"You try and watch the fielders and you see them coming," Pennington said. "It's a little tough when K-Rod is on the mound, but I pulled it back and swung. I was trying to hit the ball on the ground somewhere and fortunately we got a good bounce and won the game."

Rodriguez fielded the ball, but threw it away at first, allowing Barton and Hannahan to score. It was the seventh blown save for Rodriguez, who set a single-season record by earning his 58th save against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.

"In that situation I'm trying to get one out," Rodriguez said. "I don't know what would have happened if I made a good throw. The inning would still be alive. At that point, I just was looking for one out and then try to take care of the rest. Obviously, things didn't go the way I was expecting them to go."

Despite surrendering Teixeira's 11th home run since he joined the Angels from the Atlanta Braves on July 29, rookie closer Brad Ziegler (2-0) earned the victory. Ziegler had allowed three runs in 54 innings before allowing the blast.

"It wasn't where I wanted to throw it for sure but it wasn't a strike at the same time," Ziegler said. "He's a big-time hitter and he's been on fire since he's been with them and you've just got to tip your hat sometimes.

"I love that our team bounced back and got that win. ... We're fighting for every game and the way they came back and battled against a guy (Rodriguez) whose had an unbelievable year and it makes us feel good knowing that if we just keep it close our guys are going to fight until the very end."

Oakland rookie starter Greg Smith was in line for the win after pitching six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out four. The 24-year-old lefthander did not factor in the decision despite yielding one run or fewer for the 11th time in 30 starts.

"(I didn't) necessarily feel better than any other outing, but I did feel good tonight and got a little better result," Smith said. "Win or lose in an outing you've got to go into the next one with a clear head. Even tonight, as soon as the game's over, its over. You can't change it good or bad, indifferent so you just go into each outing with the same attitude."

Angels starter Jered Weaver had an equally impressive outing, surrendering his only run on an RBI double by rookie Aaron Cunningham in the fifth. Weaver permitted six hits and three walks in six innings, striking out eight.

"I'm not one of those guys just because we clinched the division I'm going to throw it in," Weaver said. "I'm going to go out there and compete. I'm just trying to put some light in their eyes and see what happens. There's nothing really I can do except go out there and throw the ball as well as I can."