Angels 5, Athletics 4
By Eric Gilmore, The Sports Xchange
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Catcher Geovany Soto hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning off closer Sean Doolittle, lifting the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-4 comeback victory against the Oakland A's at the Coliseum on Tuesday night.
Oakland led 4-1 through seven innings, but the Angels scored two runs in the eighth off reliever Ryan Madson. Yunel Escobar and Daniel Nava had back-to-back singles with one out. Albert Pujols lined a two-run, two-out double down the left field line.
In the ninth, Doolittle (1-2) walked pinch hitter C.J. Cron with one out, and Soto crushed an 0-1 fastball over the left-center field wall for his first home run of the season.
Angels right-hander Huston Street pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save of the season.
Shortstop Marcus Semien hit two solo home runs, and right-hander Kendall Graveman pitched six strong innings for the A's.
Semien hit a leadoff homer in the second inning and a two-out homer in the seventh, both off Angels left-hander Hector Santiago. It was the second career two-homer game for Semien, who homered twice on May 10 last season against Seattle.
Graveman allowed one run on four hits. He struck out three, walked two and threw 98 pitches in a no-decision.
Santiago gave up four runs on seven hits over 7 2/3 innings but didn't figure in the decision. He struck out three and walked one.
Soto went 2-for-4 with his home run, and Kole Calhoun went 2-for-4 with a double.
A's right fielder Josh Reddick drove in two runs, while center fielder Billy Burns went 2-for-3, scored two
The A's took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Burns led off with a walk, stole second then tagged up and advanced to third when Josh Phegley flied out to right. Reddick brought Burns home with a single to center.
The Angels pulled even with a run in the second. Albert Pujols led off with a walk, moved to third on Calhoun's single to right and scored when Andrelton Simmons hit into a double play.
Oakland regained the lead on Semien's leadoff homer in the third. He crushed Santiago's 2-2 sinker deep over the left-field fence for his second home run of the season.
After Semien homered, Burns singled softly to center, moved to second on a groundout, stole third and scored on Reddick's groundout to Pujols at first, making it 3-1.
NOTES: A's LHP Felix Doubront underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow Tuesday in Cincinnati. The typical recovery time is 12 to 18 months. ... Oakland DH Billy Butler and 1B Mark Canha started for the first time since Wednesday, and CF Billy Burns for the first time since Friday. All three spent most of last season in the starting lineup. ... A's INF Eric Sogard (strained neck), who went 2-for-4 Monday for Class A Stockton in his first rehab game, worked out Tuesday in Oakland and will play for Stockton again Wednesday. ... Angels 1B/DH C.J. Cron, who was batting .077 with no home runs or RBIs after going 0-for-4 Monday, was out of the lineup Tuesday. "He's really an important piece to what we need to do," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. ... Angels 1B/DH Albert Pujols, who had offseason foot surgery, started at first base for the second consecutive day and second time this season.