Angels Win Series Against A’s with Late-Inning Comeback

ANGELS GAME RECAP: After piling on 12 runs in the first game of the series against the Oakland Athletics, the Los Angeles Angels scored just 3 runs for the next 17 innings against them. With the A’s looking to officially clinch a playoff spot, the Angels started off today’s businessman special with a two-run home run off the bat of Mike Trout.

September 18, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder

(27) is congratulated by designated hitter

(32) for hitting a two-run home run against Oakland Athletics catcher

(36, far right) during the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

However, that would be the only hit the Angels would get against A’s starter A.J. Griffin through his six strong innings. For the Angels, their starter Jason Vargas did not have his best stuff. After two strong innings, Vargas gave up two home-runs both with a man on-base in the bottom of the 3rd to Coco Crisp and Yoenis Cespedes, giving the A’s a 4-1 lead.

Vargas would put the lead-off man on base for the next three innings in a row but managed to keep the A’s lead to just three. Two strong innings from Cory Rasmus and the score was kept where it was going into the bottom of ninth.

With A’s closer Grant Balfour coming in for a save opportunity, the Angels were able to give the fiery Aussie a blown save. Erick Aybar reached based on a walk and then Josh Hamilton went deep on the second pitch he saw the tie the baseball game.

Buddy Boshers shut down the A”s in the ninth to send it into extras. Fast forward to the top of the 11th and J.B. Shuck, who had three excellent defensive plays earlier in the game, started the game off with a double to right-field. A Josh Donaldson error on a Erick Aybar bunt sacrificed put men on first and third and no outs for the Angels. However, the next batter Mike Trout was out on an infield pop up for the first out of inning giving the A’s a window of an opportunity to get out of the 11th unscathed.

Bob Melvin went to his bullpen to bring in Jerry Blevins to face Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton. It was a re-match of the previous game, where Blevins had come into the game during a tight situation and was able to get Hamilton out, killing a possible Angels comeback. Blevins put Josh Hamilton in an 0-2 hole but Hamilton went with Blevins next offering and put the ball into deep left-field to allow J.B. Shuck to score and give the Angels the lead.

Ernesto Frieri came in and shut down the A’s on two fly-outs and one pop-up. Not an easy task for the Angels defenders with the daylight sun beaming down on the coliseum.

Angels take the series against the Oakland A’s and prevent the A’s from making the playoffs for at least one more game.