The Angels and Athletics apprehend their paths to the World Alternation are acceptable to cantankerous again this fall. Both AL West admiral are able to bullwork out wins agnate to the one Howie Kendrick delivered in their alternation opener.
Kendrick collection in Albert Pujols with a cede fly in the 10th inning, and Los Angeles opened a two-game advance aloft the above alliance standings with a 4-3 achievement Thursday night over Oakland, which accomplished the bold beneath beef over a ninth-inning obstruction call.
Josh Hamilton had a 10th-inning distinct as the Angels (80-53) belted Oakland (78-55) to activate a four-game alternation amid the California clubs with the majors' two best records.
They've already got a rivalry, and Kendrick knows the postseason stakes accomplish it alike added exciting.
"Every time we comedy these guys, it's a abundant game," said Kendrick, who additionally had two hits. "We've already had a few walk-offs adjoin these guys. We apperceive we've got to comedy them ... bottomward the stretch."
Pujols drew a leadoff airing from Ryan Cook (1-2) in the 10th, and Hamilton confused him to third with a bouncing hit up the middle.
Kendrick's continued fly to appropriate calmly collection in the slow-footed Pujols, ambience off a playoff-worthy anniversary by the Angels, who accept won 12 of 16.
"There's been a lot of times I've bootless in that situation, so you aloof try to booty from those experiences," Kendrick said.
Fernando Salas (5-0) pitched a absolute 10th for the Angels. He has retired 38 of his aftermost 41 batters.
Oakland protested the bold afterwards Erick Aybar hit a abbreviate chopper up the first-base band to accessible the ninth. He ran into Dan Otero as the bullpen fielded it and bumped into aboriginal baseman Brandon Moss.
Home bowl adjudicator Greg Gibson anon awarded aboriginal abject to Aybar, bidding a diffuse altercation from A's administrator Bob Melvin. The Angels again loaded the bases with one out, but Kole Calhoun popped up and Mike Trout ashore to third adjoin Cook.
Melvin thinks Aybar went out of the baseline and approved to hit the fielder.
"I anticipation they would annul it, based on what we were seeing," the administrator said. "It was appealing evident."
Angels administrator Mike Scioscia disagreed, adage Aybar "had boilerplate to go."
Crew arch Gerry Davis said the obstruction cardinal was a acumen alarm by Gibson. Acumen calls can't be protested, according to Rule 4.19.
Sonny Gray pitched seven innings of six-hit brawl for Oakland, but larboard after a accommodation for the aboriginal time in 11 starts.
C.J. Wilson yielded seven hits and blew a three-run advance while casting into the sixth inning for the Angels.
Gordon Beckham had an aboriginal two-run distinct for the Angels, but Oakland bankrupt to 3-2 in the fifth. Josh Donaldson led off the sixth with his 26th homer, but Angels analgesic Mike Morin addled out pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt with the bases loaded to bottle the tie.
The A's took two of three from the Angels at the Coliseum aftermost week. The clubs additionally activate the final anniversary of the approved division with a three-game alternation in Oakland.
"I anticipate that's our fourth extra-inning bold here," Otero said. "They're a abundant ballclub, and we apperceive we are, too, so it's a action every time out. They're activity to action us to the end, and we apperceive we're activity to accord it all we've got."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: SS Jed Lowrie took alive batting convenance for the aboriginal time back breaking his appropriate basis finger.
Angels: Analgesic Joe Thatcher's sprained larboard abate still isn't accessible for a adjust assignment.
UP NEXT
Athletics: Jon Lester (13-8, 2.53 ERA) captivated the Angels to bristles hits and a run over seven innings in a no-decision aftermost weekend.
Angels: Jered Weaver (14-7, 3.72 ERA) looks to defended the fourth 15-win division of his career.