Calhoun's single lifts Angels by Athletics
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Kole Calhoun's two-out single to center field off Ryan Madson scored Danny Espinosa from second base in the bottom of the 11th inning, lifting the Los Angeles Angels to a 2-1 win over the Oakland A's Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.
Espinosa led off the 11th with a single and Martin Maldonado, despite being behind 0-2 in the count, laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Espinosa to second. Yunel Escobar lined out to second baseman Jed Lowrie for the second out, bringing up Calhoun, who finished it with his single on an 0-1 pitch from Madson (0-2).
The Angels and A's played nine innings without a single baserunner stepping foot on second base.
But on the first pitch of the 10th inning, Oakland's Josh Phegley touched them all, hitting a home run on a 90-mph fastball grooved by Angels reliever Jose Alvarez.
Not to be outdone, the Angels' Mike Trout led off the bottom of the 10th with a home run just inside the right-field foul pole against A's closer Santiago Casilla, tying the game at 1-1.
Angels starter JC Ramirez and Oakland starter Jesse Hahn were equally dominant through seven innings, as neither pitcher faced anything close to a stressful inning.
Ramirez, a reliever before Garrett Richards' injury forced him into the rotation, was finished after 92 pitches, replaced by Blake Parker to start the eighth. Ramirez gave up only two hits, one of which was a bunt single. He walked two and struck out seven.
Parker gave up a leadoff walk to start the eighth but nothing else, while Hahn, who made 86 pitches through seven innings, remained in the game to pitch the eighth.
It appeared the Angels would get a runner into scoring position for the first time when Jefry Marte led off with a drive to right-center field. But right fielder Matt Joyce made a diving catch.
Hahn gave up a two-out walk to Cameron Maybin but finished the inning stranding Maybin at first. After making 101 pitches, Hahn was finished after eight innings, and like Ramirez, did not allow an opposing baserunner to get into scoring position.
Hahn allowed only one hit, a single by Andrelton Simmons in the fifth inning.
NOTES: Oakland placed OF Rajai Davis on the 10-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring and designated RHP Raul Alcantara for assignment. Taking the two roster spots are OF Ryan LaMarre and RPH Cesar Valdez, who were called up from Triple-A Nashville. ... A's RHP Kendall Graveman, on the DL with a strained shoulder, will be activated to start Thursday's game against the Angels. ... Angels DH Albert Pujols has 16 RBIs this season, bringing his career total to 1,833. Earlier this week, Pujols passed Manny Ramirez to become the all-time RBI leader among Dominican Republic natives. ... Angels CF Mike Trout's 10th-inning homer was the first of his career in extra innings