Game #21: A's Make Speedy Work of Angels, Win 6-2

The A's took just two hours and six minutes to finish off the Angels in a game that could have been reduced to but a single inning; the first, as nearly all of the scoring took place right out of the gate. Despite early struggles for both pitchers, Gray ended up pitching eight innings, while Weaver would hang on for seven, although Gray did a much better job of minimizing his damage. The A's scored five runs in about six seconds off Weaver in the first, and tacked on another in the sixth.

Sonny Gray pitched his way to his third win of the season in his eight innings, allowing six hits, a walk and two runs, but nearly nothing after the second inning. He walked the lead-off batter for the Angels, allowed a one-out single to put runners at the corners, and a wild pitch to put two in scoring position. A single by Freese plated both runs for the early 2-0 lead for the Angels, but Freese was thrown out at second base on the play. A second baserunner was thrown out in the second inning, sandwiched around 3 singles, which helped Gray settle down into nearly unhittable territory. Gray gave up 5 singles and a walk in the first and second innings and only one single in innings 3-8.

The A's maximized their chances in the wobbly Weaver inning; after going down 2-0 in the first, Semien and Vogt both started the game with one-out singles in their half of the inning, and after Billy Butler was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Ike Davis popped up for the second out, looking for all the world like he killed the rally. But Josh Reddick and his new and improved swing came up huge and with a two-out single, tied the game. And almost immediately after, Lawrie did the unexpected and hit a three-run home run.

Gray sailed along through the eighth inning; Josh Reddick would get to Jered Weaver one more time with a solo home run to give the A's a 6-2 lead, and instead of using anyone else in the bullpen for the ninth, the A's elected to pitch Evan Scribner. All he did was strike out the side in nasty fashion. SCRIBNER FOR CLOSER!

The A's will try to win the series tomorrow behind Jesse Hahn. We'll be here at the same time, same place with all of the action!