Oakland, CA - Casey Kotchman went 3-for-4 with a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim defeated the Oakland Athletics, 4-3, in the finale of a four-game series at McAfee Coliseum.
Garret Anderson finished with two hits — including a triple — and three RBI, and Orlando Cabrera had a pair of hits and two runs scored for the Angels, who earned a split in the series, snapping a brief two-game losing skid.
John Lackey (14-6) worked 6 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on nine hits while striking out five and walking a pair. Francisco Rodriguez walked a pair in the ninth, but earned his 27th save of the season.
Dan Johnson hit a two-run homer, his 11th of the season, and Jack Cust had two hits and scored twice for Oakland, which had a two-game winning streak halted.
Kiko Calero (1-5) took the loss, giving up two runs on three hits, while walking one in 2/3 of an inning. Starter Dan Haren allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings pitched. He struck out six and walked three.
In a back-and-forth contest and the Angels trailing 3-2 in the seventh, LA went back in front. Calero replaced Haren and was greeted with a lined single to center off the bat of Chone Figgins. Cabrera followed with a double and Vladimir Guerrero was intentionally walked to load the bases. Anderson’s sacrifice fly plated Figgins, and after Gary Matthews Jr. grounded into a force out, Kotchman’s run-scoring single gave the Angels a 4-3 lead.
“That was unfortunate for Kiko,” Athletics manager Bob Geren said. “He pitched well. Offensively it was a game of missed opportunity. We had the bases loaded with no outs and we didn’t get the big blow.”
Rodriguez came in for the ninth and after retiring the first two batters, walked Nick Swisher and Cust before getting Mark Ellis to fly out to center to preserve the win.
The Angels got off to a quick start, scoring a run in the first inning. Guerrero drew a two-out walk, stole second and Anderson followed with a run- scoring triple to center to give LA the early advantage.
The A’s tied the game in the second when they loaded the bases with no outs, but could only manage one run when Marco Scutaro grounded into a double play, plating Cust.
“Guys go through stretches when their stuff isn’t as crisp,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “(Lackey) allowed a lot of runners but did a terrific job of minimizing the damage in that second inning.”
Los Angeles reclaimed the lead in the fifth when Cabrera reached first with a two-out bunt single and Guerrero followed with a walk. Anderson then lined a base hit to center, scoring Cabrera to give the Angels a 2-1 lead.
The A’s took a 3-2 lead in the sixth when Cust led off with a walk and after Ellis flied out to right, Johnson hammered a home run to left-center.
Game Notes
Attendance was 26,782…The Angels will host the Boston Red Sox in a three- game series beginning on Monday night, while Oakland will head to Texas to play the Rangers in a three-game set starting Monday…Anderson now has 109 career RBI versus the A’s…Lackey improved to 11-3 lifetime versus Oakland…Kotchman has hit safely in 12 of the last 13 games.
