Oakland Athletics send Los Angeles Angels to 6-3 loss in series starter – MLB Update
Oakland Athletics overpowered the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 in the first competition of the three-game series at O.co Coliseum in Oakland on Monday, September 12.
Josh Willingham hammered a three-run home-run off the Angels’ starter Joel Pineiro to take the A’s into a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Scott Sizemore and Cliff Pennington each added an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth and then Willingham
drove in an RBI to finalise A’s score to 6-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning.
A’s starter, Gio Gonzalez backed up his batting squad with some brilliant variety with the ball. He struck-out six batters and allowed only two runs on seven hits in just over six innings. His performance led him to the 13th win with a 3.41 ERA
in 29 starts in the 2011 regular season.
Relief pitcher Brian Fuentes carried a top performance and closed down the eighth inning with two strike-outs in just over one no-hit inning. Closer Grant Balfour gave away a solo home-run despite striking three batters in the last inning.
Angels’ Vernon Wells tripled in the second for an RBI and launched a home-run in the ninth. Shortstop Erick Aybar also hammered into the stands in the seventh inning for his eighth home-run of the season.
Pineiro dropped his seventh outing, permitting five runs, five hits and five RBIs along with one home-run and two walks over just three innings. His record has dropped to 6-7 with a 5.33 ERA in 22 starts. Tyler Chatwood relieved Pineiro and allowed one run
on five hits in over three innings.
Horacio Ramirez and Fernando Rodney each did not yield any run in their short innings but it was not enough to bring the Angels back into the game.
Angels lost their 67th game in a crucial time when they are fighting hard to make their entrance into the postseason. They are nine games down the American League leader New York Yankees.
A’s are out of the contest of the postseason but their win has caused some serious problems in the Angels camp. A’s have won only 67 games in the current season.
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