by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s lost to the Los Angeles Angels 5-4 Monday night in Anaheim. The A’s lost for the eighth time in their last nine games and they continue to lose one-run games. The Angels entered the game trailing the Houston Astros by just 1/2game in the race for the second Wild Card spot. Oakland would like nothing better than to beat LA and derail those hopes.

The A’s took an early 1-0 in the top of the first. Angels’Lefty Hector Santiago gave up a single to Billy Burns. Santiago hot Mark Canha with a pitch to put men on at 1st and 2nd with no out. Brett Lawrie grounded out and Burns advanced to third on the play. Billy Butler flew out to center. Burns tagged, but Mike Trout’s throw from center appeared to nail him. Burns put on the brakes, but he couldn’t make it back to third safely. Two miscues by the Angels allowed Burns to score..

The Angels took the lead in the bottom of the third. Catcher Chris Iannetta walked to get the rally started. Johnny Giavotella doubled to center to drive in Iannetta. Burns was charged with an error as Giavotella reached third on the play. Shortstop Erick Aybar doubled to drive in Giavotella. Angels lead 2-1.

The A’s tied the game in the fourth. A’s shortstop Marcus Semien took Santiago deep for his fourteenth homer of the year. The Angels scored a run in their half of the fourth. 3-2 after four.

The A’s scored twice in the top of the sixth. Santiago hit Brett Lawrie with a pitch. Billy Butler doubled to put two men in scoring position.Jake Smolinski flew out to right driving in Lawrie with the tying run. Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia brought in Cory Rasmus for one batter then replaced him with lefty Jose Alvarez. Coco Crisp, batting right-handed, blooped a single to right to drive in Butler.  The Angels tied the game in their half of the inning. Albert Pujols hit his thirty-eighth home run of the year and 558th of his career. Game tied at four.

The game ended in the bottom of the ninth. Edward Mujica took the loss. C.J.Cron singled. David Freese hit  a “swinging” bunt. Mujica fielded the ball but threw it past first for an error. The A’s walked Shane Victorino to load the bases. Fernando Abad replaced Mujica. Pinch-hitter David Murphy singled to left to drive in the winning run. Angels win 5-4.