Angels fall apart in 7th, drop second straight to A's

By foxsports
Published

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Derek Norris had a pinch-hit two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning in the Oakland Athletics' 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday.

Jed Lowrie also drove in a run for the A's, who won their second straight and five of seven overall. Coco Crisp added two hits.

Tommy Milone (9-8) allowed four hits over seven innings, allowing one run. He walked four and struck out six.

Josh Hamilton hit a booming home run for the Angels, who lost their second straight and five of seven overall.

Grant Richards, making his first start since April 30, pitched five shutout innings. He gave up three hits, walked two and struck out four.

Ryan Cook pitched the eighth and Grant Balfour got the final three outs for his 28th save in 29 chances.

Richards, who came out of the bullpen in his past 26 appearances, gave up seven runs in 5 2-3 innings in his last start, also against the A's.

Scott Downs (2-3) entered the game in the seventh after Dane De La Rosa got Chris Young to hit into a fielder's choice. The A's countered with Norris, who promptly delivered his first career pinch hit, a two-run shot into right field bleachers that put the A's ahead.

Downs allowed his first run in 30 appearances, one short of tying the Angels club record.

After getting an out, Crisp singled and scored when Lowrie doubled off the right field wall, ending Downs day.

Hamilton's home run with one out in the second put the Angels ahead 1-0.

Milone allowed three runs or more (5.79 ERA) in each of his six previous starts. The four hits matched his season low.

NOTES: Angels DH Albert Pujols returned to Los Angeles to have his sore left foot evaluated. He aggravated the injury running out a single in the ninth inning of Friday's game. ... RHP Tommy Hansen (4-2, 4.75) starts Sunday's series finale for the Angels. It will be his second start since returning from the DL. Hansen is 2-0 in three road starts. ... RHP Jarrod Parker (6-6, 3.79) makes the start for the Athletics on Sunday. He's 4-0 with a 2.17 ERA over his past 10 starts. He has a no-decision in each of his past five starts. ... A's LHP Brett Anderson threw a 51-pitch bullpen session, with a break in the middle. ... The Angels had won the past 14 games in which Hamilton recorded an RBI. ... The A's and Angels participated in a Throwback Day to 1969, which included Country Joe McDonald, of Woodstock fame, singing the national anthem.