Los Angeles Angels on razor’s edge as Jordan Walden concedes runs to gift Oakland Athletics 6-5 win
If there was a good chance to seek a Wild-Card berth, the Los Angeles Angels had a shot in their Sunday, September 25 game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. The club did well in the game as Joel Pineiro did not give any runs to the
A’s while the Angels pounded on Rich Harden for three early runs. Their efforts however were wasted as rookie closer Jordan Walden conceded four runs in the ninth to gift the game away 6-5.
Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia had a chance to get his team a Wild-Card berth but now their loss means they need the rest of the teams in contention for the position, to lose the last three games while they win their encounters. That will be a hard task as
the club will be going up against the Texas Rangers in their final series.
The A’s on the other hand, are looking more like a team that is working their way for a good season end. Harden was on the verge of losing the game but his performance granted him a no decision as the club picked up an important win.
Angels opened their scoring card in the bottom of the first. Bobby Abreu slotted Howard Kendrick home with a challenging single to centre. Angels went 1-0 up early. Los Angeles was just getting started as Abreu brought another run to the club in the third
when he slammed Harden for a 387-feet home-run. Vernon Wells followed soon after as he smashed a homer in the sixth off the A’s starter, 416-feet towards left.
It seemed like the game was now beyond the A’s. However that assumption proved wrong when Scott Downs came on to the mound for the Angels. The reliever pitched himself into a bases loaded situation. With one man out, the problem got worse in the top of the
eighth as Scott Sizemore scored the first run for the home team through a Jemile Weeks single. Jai Miller scored the second run when Coco Crisp hit a sacrifice fly.
Before things got worse, Walden came in to retire Hideki Matsui and end the inning. Oakland was back in the fixture with a 2-3 score line. However things were not as simple as the club expected. The Angles responded with two more runs in the eighth against
Fautino De Los Santos. Los Angeles placed two men on second and third base against the hurler. Torii Hunter and Alberto Callaspo stole bases to go up the diamond.
They were led home eventually when Peter Bourjos slammed a single to right-field. With the Angles on 5-2, it looked like the A’s were out of the contest. However Josh Willingham had other ideas as he slammed a homer in the ninth against Walden. The A’s were
now 3-5.
With two singles, Scott Sizemore and Chris Carter were on base. Sizemore scored the fourth run for the team when Adam Rosales reached first base and forced Walden to commit a throwing error.
The score was tied immediately after that as Kurt Suzuki drove a double to right-field. Carter scored while Rosales moved to third base. Walden was replaced but he earned the last and losing run as Hisanori Takahashi was hit with a sacrifice fly by Coco
Crisp. The play allowed Rosales to make it 6-5. The A’s were the surprising victors of the game.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
Tags: