By George Devine, Sr.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beat the A’s, 3-1, in the rubber game of a three-game visit from the Oaks, winning the series and having a negative impact on the Athletics’ chances for home field advantage in the ALDS.

The scoring didn’t begin until the home fourth, as starters Dan Straily and Jered Weaver had battled each other mightily. But Weaver’s dominance over the A’s repeated itself and the road team’s offense remained flat, as it has been during this series. Erick Aybar singled to left, stole second and reached third on Cole Calhoun’s 4-3 groundout, scoring as Josh Hamilton reached on a fielder’s choice. In the next inning Chris Ianetta walked, and took second as first baseman Daric Barton missed Andrew Romine’s sacrifice bunt. J.B. Shuck reached on a fielder’s choice and Ianetta went for the plate but was out. Romine advanced to third and scored when Aybar singled to cener. Shuck then went to third and scored when Josh Hamilton singled to short.

In the sixth, the A’s got on the board when Coco Crisp singled to right, as did Eric Sogard. Crisp came home on Jed Lowrie’s sacrifice fly to left.

Weaver is the winner (11-8; 7 ip, 5 h, 1 er, 1 w, 2 k) and Straily the loser (10-8; 6.2 ip, 7 h, 3 r, 1 er, 1 w, 2 k). Ernesto Frieri picked up his 37th save.

The Athletics now travel to Seattle where they face the Mariners at 7:05 p.m. PDT on Friday, September 27. Starting pitchers are Bartolo Colon (17-6) and Felix Hernandez (12-9).

Oakland Athletics single game tickets for potential American League Championship Series home games at O.co Coliseum will go on sale Friday, Sept. 27 beginning at 10 a.m., it was announced today.
Fans are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets online at www.oaklandathletics.com/postseason. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling 877-493-BALL (2255) and at the O.co Coliseum Box Office.
The A’s will use dynamic pricing on all ALCS games to accurately set and adjust ticket prices in real-time. Tickets purchased for any unplayed games are refundable.
Fans can lock in ticket prices and guarantee tickets to the ALCS and World Series by placing a deposit on a 2014 ticket plan. For more information or to place a deposit, please call 510-638-GoA’s (4627) or visit www.oaklandathletics.com/deposit.
The A’s, who clinched the American League West title on Sunday for the second consecutive season, will be making the 17thpostseason appearance in Oakland history and 25th in Athletics history. Only the Yankees (51), Dodgers (27) and Cardinals (26 including this year) have made more postseason appearances. Since 1968, the A’s have won 16 AL West Division championships (1971-75; 1981; 1988-90; 1992; 2000; 2002-03, 2006, 2012-13) and four World Series titles (1972-74, 1989). Only the Yankees (18) and Braves (17 including this year) have won more division championships during that span, and only the Yankees have more world championships (7).