The Angels lost a close game that was in hand when they made the most minor defensive misjudgements. Jason Grilli gave up what should have been a one-out groundout that Howie Kendrick just could not get out of his glove. A booming gapper scored the go ahead run to break a 2-2 tie and a sac fly scored Oakland's fourth run.
Albert Pujols grounded into a double play to make A's starter Sonny Gray look masterful but as it was A.P.'s 23rd DeePee of the season it shouldn't make a guy look all that special. Hector Santiago started and minimized the damage of giving up way too many hits by getting out of jams. But with 97 pitches tossed after five innings of two-run ball, Mike Scioscia went to the pen to hold the lid on the tie ballgame and paid for it dearly.
Meanwhile the bats were quite silent despite a booming home run from Mike Trout in the top of the first inning and monster shot to Right Field by Josh Hamilton in the fourth.
After their self-inflicted overnight plane flight, the Halos played tired. Mike Scioscia played bullpen roulette until the deficit was just deep enough that he sat his top four relievers (Salas, Jepsen, Smith & Street). Cam Bedrosian gave up a fifth HR on a solo shot and that was the cost of giving the big arms the rest.
It appeared Bedrosian's gaffe would really get in the way when the Angels cut the lead to 5-3 and had the bases loaded with two out when Chris Iannetta, pinch-hitting for Hank Conger, struck out to end the game. A possible silver lining was the 25+ pitches super-reliever Sean Doolittle had to throw to get out of it. We shall see as the rest of their pen got a day off and our rested arms do not wake up slumbering bats - that chance will come tomorrow at 6 PM.