Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Chris Smith throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Anaheim- The Los Angels Angels, in a dogfight with the Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, and Tampa Bay Rays for the second Wild Card spot in the American League, beat the A’s Tuesday night by a score of 8-2 and remained just one game behind Minnesota. The A’s sent Chris Smith out to pitch, and the Angels countered with Troy Scribner.

The A’s starter, the 36-year old Chris Smith, gave up five runs to the Angels in the bottom of the first inning. Angels’ leadoff hitter, Cameron Maybin doubled to get things going for LA. The next batter, Ben Revere, singled to drive in Maybin. Smith walked Albert Pujols to put two men on with no out. Right-fielder Kole Calhoun hit a hard ground ball to Jed Lowrie at second. Lowrie misplayed the ball but was able to get a 4-6 force out on Pujols for the first out of the inning. Revere advanced to third on the play. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons hit a sacrifice fly to center that allowed Revere to come in with the Angels’ second run of the inning. A’s center fielder, Boog Powell, tried to nail Revere at home but Revere had to much speed to be thrown out. Calhoun was able to go to second on the throw. Smith then walked Luis Valbuena and Angels’ first baseman, C.J. Cron went yard to make it 5-0. It was Cron’s eleventh of the year, and for Smith, it was the thirteenth home run allowed in just 44 and 1/3rd innings of work.

The A’s, to their credit, tallied two in the top of the second. With one out, Matt Joyce hit a solo home run into the seats in right field. For Joyce, it was his twentieth of the season, and it is a career-high. Matt Olson followed with his tenth big fly, also a solo homer, to make it a 5-2 game.

The Angels are treating this series as if it were the playoffs. At this point in the season, every game counts and Angels’ manager, Mike Scioscia, is not afraid to yank a pitcher if he suspects the pitcher will not be able to get the job done. Scioscia pulled Scribner in the third inning. Scribner had recorded two outs, but Scioscia removed him as a left-handed hitter was coming to the plate. He brought in lefty Jose Alvarez to get the final out of the third and Alvarez did his job. In the fourth, with two out, Alvarez gave up singles to Matt Chapman and Bruce Maxwell. Scioscia removed Alvarez and brought in the former Athletic, Jesse Chavez. Chavez came through as he struck out Chad Pinder to end the fourth. The Angels tacked on two more runs in their half of the inning. Martin Maldonado blasted his twelfth of the season into the left field seats. There was absolutely no doubt about it when it left the bat. The second run of the inning came when Maybin reached second on a two-base throwing error by Matt Chapman. Ben Revere singled again, and the Angels led 7-2.

The Angels added another run in the eighth when Cron hit his second homer of the night. Michael Brady was pitching for the A’s, and it was the fifth time in eleven games that Brady has allowed the first batter he faced to homer.

Blake Wood retired the A’s in order in the ninth to secure the win for the Angels.

Game Notes- The first five innings of the tilt were played at a glacial pace. It took one hour and fifty-five minutes, and it seemed the game would go on for two more hours. Jesse Chavez, to his credit, allowed just one hit and kept the A’ scoreless. Chavez was credited with the win. The Angels used five pitchers to beat the A’s. Chris Smith’s record is now 0-4. After the game, Bob Melvin remarked the Smith “made some mistakes, but he hung in there for a while.” Smith went 3 and 2/3rds innings and allowed seven runs, one of which was unearned.

The third game of the three-game series will be played Wednesday night in Anaheim at 7:05 pm. Kendall Graveman will pitch for Oakland, and the Halos’ Parker Bridwell will be on the hill for LA.

The Angels All-Star and reigning AL MVP, Mike Trout, did not play as he is bothered by soreness in his neck.

Time of game was two hours and fifty-three minutes and 36,229 fans watched the Angels slug their way to victory.