Angels 5, Athletics 4
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Angels had lost five straight games to the Oakland A's entering the finale of their three-game series Wednesday afternoon at the O.co Coliseum.
The Angels had been swept by the A's in a three-game series last month at Angel Stadium, and they were one loss away from being swept by Oakland in back-to-back series for the first time since 1991.
Apparently, enough was enough for the Angels.
With Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo and Howie Kendrick drilling solo home runs, the Angels beat the A's 5-4, avoiding a sweep and snapping their four-game losing streak.
Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson improved to 3-0, and he worked exceptionally hard for this victory. Wilson threw 36 pitches in the first inning alone and 123 for his outing, holding the A's to two runs over 6 1/3 innings. Wilson allowed six hits, while striking out five and walking five.
Wilson escaped bases-loaded jams unscathed in the first inning and the sixth.
The A's and Angels were deadlocked at 2-2 after five innings before Trout and Trumbo hammered solo home runs off left-hander Tommy Milone in the sixth.
Leading off, Trout crushed a 1-1 fastball deep over the left-field fence for his third home run of the season, giving the Angels a 3-2 lead.
When he came to the plate with one out, Trumbo turned on Milone's first-pitch fastball and hit a laser that slammed into the yellow home run line above the out-of-town scoreboard in left field. Trumbo's shot was initially ruled a double, but after a video review, the umpires sent Trumbo home, making it 4-2.
The home run was Trumbo's sixth of the season and third in three games against the A's.
The Angels increased their lead to 5-2 with a run in the top of the eighth when Trout tripled and Albert Pujols drove him in with a sacrifice fly. The Angels could have had at least another run, but A's Gold Glove right fielder Josh Reddick gunned down Josh Hamilton at third before Trumbo could score from second on Kendrick's two-out single.
The A's, of course, didn't go quietly. They scored two runs in the bottom of the eight, cutting the Angels lead to 5-4.
With one out and Reddick on first, designated hitter Luke Montz blasted an RBI double off reliever Scott Downs to left center. Montz had been recalled from Triple-A Sacramento just hours earlier. Adam Rosales singled sharply to right, scoring Montz as the A's pulled to within a run.
Downs left the game with an injury to his right side, and Ernesto Frieri took over. He retired Jed Lowrie on a fly ball to left, walked pinch hitter John Jaso and struck out Seth Smith, ending the inning.
Frieri hit Yoenis Cespedes with his first pitch of the ninth, but Cespedes was caught stealing when he slid past second base, and Kendrick tagged him out.
After winning his first three starts, Milone has lost three straight. He struck out 10, matching his career high, but also tied a career high by giving up three home runs. Milone allowed seven hits and didn't walk a batter.
NOTES: The A's placed center fielder Coco Crisp (strained left hamstring) and starting pitcher Brett Anderson (sprained right ankle) on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday. To take their spots on the 25-man roster, the A's brought up pitcher Dan Straily and catcher/first baseman Montz. ... The Angels recalled right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier from Triple-A Salt Lake City, one day after optioning left-handed reliever Nick Maronde to Double-A Arkansas.
