by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s fell to the Angels Wednesday night 6-3. The A’s  starter Jesse Hahn went five innings giving up 3 runs on 4 hits. He did not take the loss as the A’s rallied from a three-run deficit to tie the score in the sixth and got him off the hook.

Angels’ starter, Matt Shoemaker, was not involved in the decision either. Shoemaker left after 5 23rds inning allowing six hits and three runs.  The bullpen failed the A’s once again. Ryan Cook, in his second appearance since being called up from Nashville, took the loss. Cook went just 1/3rd of an inning allowing 2 hits and 3 runs. The A’s drop to 9-13 while LA is now 10-11 for 2015.

For the second night in a row, the Angels jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Angels’ right fielder, Kole Calhoun led off the inning with a single. Mike Trout walked to put men on at first and second with no out. The advanced to second and third on an Albert Pujols ground out. Hahn struck out David Freese for the second out but A’s nemesis, Erick Aybar, singled sharply to center field to drive in Calhoun and Trout.

In the top of the third, Mike Trout hit a blast into the left field seats to increase the Angel lead to 3-0. For Trout, it was his fifth home run of the year. In the bottom of the fourth, Oakland shortstop, Marcus Semien, doubled off the left-field wall to put the A’s in business. Stephen Vogt singled to left field driving in Semien with the run. Billy Butler hit into a double play and Ike Davis struck out to end the inning. A’s trail 3-1 after four.

The A’s rallied to tie the score in the bottom of the sixth. Marcus Semien led off the inning with an infield single. It was Semien’s third hit of the game. Ike David doubled down the right field line driving in Semien with the A’s second run of the game. Davis advanced to third on an a throwing by the Angels’ second baseman, Johnny Gaviotella. The Angels brought in the left-handed reliever, Cesar Ramos, to pitch to Josh Reddick. The strategy backfired as Reddick singled up the middle driving in Davis with the tying run.Game tied at 3 at the end of six.

The Angels broke the tie in the top of the sixth. Ryan Cook was brought in to pitch for the A’s.  Cook walked Matt Joyce to start the frame. C.J. Cron singled to right. Gaviotella singled driving in Joyce. Calhoun walked to load the bases and a Mike Trout double drove in two more runs to give the Angels a 6-3 lead in the middle of the seventh.

There was no more scoring as the Angel bullpen shut down the A’s attack. Final score 6-3 in favor of the Angels.

Notes- Angel first baseman, Albert Pujols injured his leg running to first on a single to center to start the sixth inning. He was taken out of the game due to tightness in his left hamstring. Each manager

used six pitchers in the game. Marcus Semien was the hitting star for the A’s as he had two doubles and a single.

The rubber game of the series will be played Thursday afternoon at 12:35 pm at the O.co Coliseum.

Jesse Chavez will go for Oakland and Garrett Richards will handle the pitching chores for the Angels.

Time of game was 3 hours and 1 minute and 16,212 paid to watch the game.