Halo Highlights- A’s Starting Pitching Shuts Down Angels Hitting Again

For all of the good that come out of the hot streak coming into this series against the A’s, all those good vibes are now out the window. The A’s have come into town and taken the first three games of the set winning tonight by a score of 4-1 over the Angels. The Angels are falling behind in the Wild Card race, now 3.5 out of the last spot.

Sep 12, 2012; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels players

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(13) and Kenrys Morales (8) watch from the dugout in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium. The Athletics defeated the Angels 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Josh Reddick doubled in the first and scored on Erick Aybar‘s error on Yoenis Cespedes‘ ground ball. Cespedes then hit his 18^th homer of the year in the sixth. The lead grew in the eighth when Josh Donaldson doubled, and then two batters later, Derek Norris doubled him home. Norris went to third on Cliff Pennington‘s fly out and scored on Coco Crisp‘s single.

The lone Angels run came in the bottom of the ninth when Albert Pujols hit his 30^th homer of the year. Pujols has now hit 30 home runs every year of his career and tied Willie Stargell and Stan Musial on the all-time home run list at 475 career home runs.

Thursday’s matinee affair is huge for the Halos. Jered Weaver will make his return to the mound after missing a start due to biceps tendinitis against Brett Anderson who’s been 4-0 since his return from Tommy John surgery.  The game will be at 12:35PT/3:35ET