By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Athletics hold off Angels in see-saw game
Placeholder Image

ANAHEIM (AP) — Josh Donaldson drove in Jed Lowrie with an 11th-inning double, and the Oakland Athletics overcame Mike Trout’s tying homer in the ninth for a 10-9 victory against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.

Lowrie led off the 11th with a single against Yoslan Herrera (0-1), the Angels’ seventh pitcher. Donaldson hit a sharp grounder inside third base for the AL-leading A’s, who have won four straight and eight of nine.

Jim Johnson (2-2) pitched two innings for Oakland, getting Howie Kendrick on a groundout with Trout and Albert Pujols in scoring position to end it.

Trout hit a two-run shot in the ninth for the Angels, who have lost three of four.

Both teams erased late three-run deficits during two dismal bullpen performances. The Angels trailed 9-6 in the eighth after leading 6-3 heading to the seventh.

Brandon Moss, Alberto Callaspo and pinch-hitter Derek Norris had RBI singles during a four-run eighth for the A’s. One night after Angels closer Ernesto Frieri blew a one-run lead, newcomer Joe Smith squandered a 6-5 advantage by giving up four runs, three hits and two walks without getting an out.

But David Freese had an RBI single in the eighth for Los Angeles, and Kole Calhoun led off the ninth with a double off Sean Doolittle, who has blown seven of his last 11 save opportunities.

Trout, who had three hits and drove in three runs, tied it with a no-doubt shot to left, his fifth homer of the season and the Angels’ major league-best 23rd of the year.

Calhoun had a two-run homer among his three hits, but the Angels’ leadoff hitter had to be helped off the field in the 11th when he turned his right ankle after running out a groundout.

After Trout hit an infield single and stole second, the A’s intentionally walked Pujols, but Raul Ibanez and Kendrick couldn’t come through.

Chris Iannetta had a two-run double for the Angels, who chased Dan Straily in the fourth inning before the bullpen gave it all back.

Straily was the first A’s starter to give up more than three earned runs all season, yielding seven hits and six runs. The right-hander gave up more than three runs for the first time in nine starts since last Aug. 28.

Garrett Richards pitched seven innings of eight-hit ball for the Angels, but Smith’s meltdown denied him his third victory. Richards still hasn’t lost after beginning the season in Los Angeles’ rotation for the first time, although he gave up five runs in his roughest start to date.

NOTES: Pujols went 0 for 5, snapping his 10-game hitting streak. ... The A’s pitched out when Iannetta broke for second base in the second inning on an apparent hit-and-run, but catcher John Jaso bobbled the ball and then threw too high to second, allowing the catcher to steal his first base since Sept. 4, 2012. ... Manager Mike Scioscia said hitting coach Don Baylor could be back with the Angels in a limited pregame capacity when they return from a lengthy road trip later this month. Baylor broke his leg on opening day and isn’t likely to be in the dugout during games for several weeks.