By Jeff Hall
OAKLAND — The Angels salvaged the final game of the series and regained 1st place with a 9-4 win over the A’s at the Coliseum.
A’s starter Scott Kazmir retired the side in order in the first on just 6 pitches and looked like he was on his game, however Kazmir faltered in the 2nd losing command of his pitches in the inning allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks.
Things did not improve for Kazmir in the 3rd, Albert Pujols doubled to lead off the inning and Josh Hamilton followed with his 10th Home run of the season. Kazmir would give up 2 more hits in the inning to David Freese and Erick Aybar before getting out of the inning.
In the 4th, Kazmir again ran into trouble facing the top of the order to start the inning Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout singled , Pujols followed with a run scoring single to make it a 5-0 game and drove Kazmir out of the game .
Kazmir (14-7) suffered his worst loss of the season allowing a season high tying 7 runs and a season high tying 10 hits in just 3 innings. Afterwards Kazmir owned up to his performance, “I’d throw two strikes and get ahead of the guy and then throw the ball right down the middle, I felt like I just wasn’t aggressive at all.”
Jesse Chavez who relieved Kazmir in the fourth gave up a Sacrifice fly to Hamilton and a single to Howie Kendrick allowing all of the inherited runners to score.
Mike Trout led off the sixth with his 29th homer of the season, off of Chavez, making the score 9-0
Angels Starter Jered Weaver (14-7) got the win after pitching six strong innings and striking out 8 before running into trouble in the 7th when the A’s were able to knock Weaver out of the game with 3 runs on 4 hits including a 2 run shot by Alberto Callaspo, his 4th homer of the season. One out later Andy Parrino hit a solo shot in to right. It was Parrino’s 1st home run as an Athletic.
Sogard added the A’s final run in the bottom of the 9th with a Sacrifice fly to make it 9-4.
It was a big series with the A’s taking the first 2 games. “Every game matters, going forward with less than 35 games remaining.”, said Manager Bob Melvin after the game.
The A’s went 5-2 on the homestand. Up next, the A’s will head to Houston to face the Astros. RHP Jeff Samardzija (3-3, 4.07) vs. RHP Scott Feldman (7-9, 4.37). Gametime is 5:10pm
Notes: Before the game, the A’s announced that Sean Doolittle (Intercostal) and John Jaso (concussion symptoms) would be placed on the DL. Josh Donaldson, who missed tonight’s game with a knee and hip injury, had an MRI and according to A’s Manager Bob Melvin, the results showed there was no structural damage and depending on how he is feeling Donaldson may be in the line-up Monday against Houston.
Sports Radio Service 