|
 Jaso smashed a two-run, ninth-inning home run, propelling the A's
to a 3-2 victory over the Angels at Angel Stadium.
The A's improved to 9-4, while the Angels fell to 6-7.
Jaso loves hitting at Angel Stadium. His .415 career average at the
ballpark going into the game was the best mark in the majors among
batters with at least 75 plate appearances there. However, he was on
the bench until the ninth, when he was sent up to face Angels closer
Ernesto Frieri, who was trying to protect a 2-1 lead.
Frieri, who gave up a single to third baseman Josh Donaldson to
begin the ninth, got ahead in the count at 1-2. Jaso then turned on
a 95 mph fastball and sent it 10 rows deep into the right field
bleachers.
"He showed me one changeup earlier in the at-bat and got a strike
with that," Jaso said of Frieri. "I was thinking he was going to go
back to an off-speed pitch, especially after I fouled off a couple
of his fastballs. But he challenged me with another heater, and I
think he left it over the plate a little bit more or my timing was a
little bit better on that particular pitch.
"I don't know ... it just looked really good to hit."
Frieri wasn't able to survive the inning, giving up two more singles
before he was removed from the game.
A's right-hander Jim Johnson (1-2) pitched a scoreless eighth inning
to get the win, and Luke Gregerson pitched the ninth for his second
save, though not without some drama.
With one out, Howie Kendrick hit a grounder to second baseman Nick
Punto, who bobbled the ball and threw to first. First base umpire
Chris Segal ruled Kendrick out, prompting Angels manager Mike
Scioscia to ask for a replay review.
The stadium scoreboard showed the replay, which appeared too close
to call, but the fans started chanting "Safe! Safe! Safe!" After a
few minutes, the out call was upheld.
"From the replay I just looked at, he was safe," Scioscia said. "I
don't know if they're getting different angles or what's happening,
but it's just an unfortunate thing with this process right now and
it's frustrating.
"The original call (of out) has weight, but the replay I saw, he's
clearly safe."
Third baseman David Freese popped out to shallow right field to end
it.
Both starting pitchers pitched well. It was nothing new for A's
right-hander Jesse Chavez, but it was a change for the better for
Angels lefty Hector Santiago.
Santiago gave up eight runs in 9 1/3 innings over his first two
starts, going 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA. However, the only damage the A's
managed against him was a solo home run by outfielder Yoenis
Cespedes in the fourth inning.
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Santiago finished his night by getting out of a jam in the seventh.
The A's had runners on first and third with two outs and right
fielder Josh Reddick coming up. Santiago fell behind in the count
3-1, then on a full-count pitch got Reddick to foul out to catcher
Hank Conger.
Santiago gave up one run on five hits and three walks in his seven
innings.
"The last five days since he started, he really made some nice
adjustments on the mound," Scioscia said of Santiago. "I think he
brought all his pitches in, his fastball had good life on both sides
of the plate. He pitched a strong game. It's a tough one, but we're
going to take some positives away from it."
The Angels offense could do only slightly better against Chavez, and
it was first baseman Albert Pujols who accounted for all the
offense. He had an RBI single in the first inning and a solo homer
in the third. The home run was No. 496 of his career.
"It was a lazy cutter," Chavez said of the ball Pujols hit out. "A
cutter that I tried to make big and it stayed over the middle of the
plate. Obviously, you can't do that to hitters like that."
Chavez gave up just two runs (one earned) on four hits in seven
innings. He struck out nine, did not walk a batter and continued a
streak by A's starters in which they haven't given up more than
three earned runs in any of the team's 13 games this season.
Chavez, who retired the last eight Angels hitters he faced, lowered
his season ERA from 1.38 to 1.35.
NOTES: A's OF Craig Gentry made his first start of the season,
subbing for CF Coco Crisp (tight hamstring). Gentry was on the
disabled list with a strained lower back until he was activated
Saturday. ... The A's went into the game hitting .182 (30-for-165)
in night games, the worst in the majors. ... The Angels began the
day leading the majors with 20 home runs and 15 first-inning runs.
... Angels RHP Yoslan Herrera pitched a scoreless inning of relief
Sunday against the Mets, becoming the first Cuban-born player to
pitch for the Angels since Luis Tiant in 1982.
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