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 The A's had lost eight of their past 10 games, squandering what
had been a four-game lead in the American League West on Aug. 10.
The Angels had won eight out of 10, passing the A's and taking a
two-game lead.
For one night at least, the A's and Angels reversed course.
Right-hander Sonny Gray allowed three runs on six hits over 8 1/3
innings, and Oakland beat the first-place Angels 5-3, cutting their
lead to one game.
Oakland (75-52) ended the Angels' four-game winning streak. The A's
and Angels (76-51) began a crucial 10-day stretch in which they'll
face each other seven times, the first three games in Oakland and
the final four at Anaheim.
A's center fielder Coco Crisp hit a leadoff home run in the first
inning, doubled in the fifth and scored twice. Right fielder Sam
Fuld had an RBI triple in the sixth and scored a run, and first
baseman Stephen Vogt hit a solo home run in the eighth.
"That was a huge game for us," said A's closer Sean Doolittle, who
earned a high-stress 19th save. "Coco setting the tone right off the
bat. Fuld had a huge hit. ... Sonny did what he always does. He
stayed poised. That was one of his best ball games of the year."
Gray (13-7) ended his career-high four-game losing streak and earned
his first victory since July 26 at Texas. He struck out five and
walked two and left the game to a loud standing ovation from a crowd
of 33,801.
"Everything felt good -- fastball, curveball, changeup," Gray said.
"For the most part, I was putting it where I wanted to."
With a runner on first and one out in the ninth, Doolittle struck
out second baseman Howie Kendrick for the second out, but he gave up
a single to shortstop Erick Aybar and an RBI single to third baseman
David Freese. Then he walked pinch hitter Collin Cowgill, loading
the bases. Doolittle struck out pinch hitter Chris Iannetta to end
the game.
"They battled," Doolittle said of the Angels. "That right there is
an example of why they've been so successful lately, winning a lot
of close games, coming from behind in a lot of games to get the
win."
Center fielder Mike Trout and left fielder Josh Hamilton hit solo
home runs for the Angels.
Angels right-hander Hector Santiago allowed two runs, just one of
them earned, over five innings and got his fourth straight
no-decision. He struck out five, walked two and held the A's to one
or no earned runs for the third straight start this season.
"There were a lot of good things on the field and some things we
didn't get done," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia, whose team is
0-4 this season at the Coliseum. "We couldn't get the big hit at the
end. We haven't gotten it done up here yet this season."
The A's scored twice in the sixth off reliever Jason Grilli (1-4),
snapping a 2-2 tie and taking a 4-2 lead. Second baseman Alberto
Callaspo hit an infield single with one out, and Fuld brought him
home with a triple to the right-center field alley. Fuld scored on
Parrino's sacrifice fly. Vogt extended the A's lead to 5-2, hitting
a one-out home run off reliever Cam Bedrosian.
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"I think tonight we did a good job of just worrying about winning tonight,
and that's our goal," Fuld said. "Take it one game at a time. But yeah,
given our struggles of late, it's great to get that first one of the
series under our belt."
The Angels had just two hits off Gray over the first four innings, but
they were both solo home runs, the first by Trout and the second by
Hamilton. Trout put the Angels ahead 1-0 in the top of the first with
his 28th home run of the season, golfing Gray's 1-1 curve over the high
wall in left-center.
The A's pulled even in the bottom of the first on Crisp's 15th career
leadoff home run. He sent Santiago's 1-2 fastball over the left-center
fence, following Trout's lead.
"Trout has given us some trouble before," A's manager Bob Melvin said.
"And then to turn it around and Coco hits the home run . That was huge.
That's like, all right, we're fine."
The Angels grabbed a 2-1 lead with one out in the top of the fourth on
Hamilton's ninth home run of the season and first since Aug. 4.
Oakland answered with an unearned run in the fifth. Crisp lined a ground
rule double that one-hopped the fence down the left-field line. After
left fielder Craig Gentry walked, third baseman Josh Donaldson lined a
shot up the middle that ricocheted off Santiago's left hand to second
baseman Kendrick. Kendrick got the force at second, but shortstop Aybar
threw wildly past first baseman Albert Pujols and into the A's dugout
for an error as Crisp came home.
Santiago finished the inning but didn't return for the sixth.
"It's a little sore, but I'm good to go," Santiago said. "I couldn't get
a good grip on my off-speed stuff, and I didn't want to become a
one-pitch guy. This series is too important."
NOTES: Angels RHP Garrett Richards (torn left patellar tendon) underwent
season-ending knee surgery Friday. "They said the surgery was as they
expected and they're very happy with the repair and hopefully the rehab
will go very well," manager Mike Scioscia said before the game. "Same
timetable they gave us before the surgery, six to nine months." ... The
A's activated OF Craig Gentry (broken right hand) from the 15-day
disabled list and optioned RHP Dan Otero to Triple-A Sacramento.
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