Giavotella, Calhoun lead Angels' rout of A's
ANAHEIM -- Johnny Giavotella and Kole Calhoun each hit a three-run home run, and Giavotella added an RBI single in a six-run sixth inning as the Angels routed the A's, 14-1, on Tuesday night to even this four-game series at Angel Stadium at a game apiece.
Los Angeles left-hander Hector Santiago limited the A's to just three hits, including a solo home run from Billy Butler in the third, over six innings, walking three and striking out eight. A's starter Drew Pomeranz was on the hook for five runs (four earned) in five-plus innings.
"Everything was working tonight, all five or six pitches that I throw, I threw for strikes," said Santiago."
It was right-handed reliever R.J. Alvarez who was on the mound for the sloppy sixth inning. A pair of wild pitches led to a run ahead of consecutive singles by David Freese, Erick Aybar and Collin Cowgill. The A's made two errors in the inning and three on the night. Alvarez was charged with seven runs in one-plus inning.
"Just a bad game all the way around," said A's manager Bob Melvin.
The A's best pitcher of the night? First baseman Ike Davis, who put together a 1-2-3 eighth inning while becoming the first Oakland position player to pitch in a game since Frank Menechino did it July 18, 2000, at Colorado.
Video: OAK@LAA: Davis comes in to pitch, retires the side
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Johnny G. good: Giavotella's first home run with the Angels, a two-out three-run shot to left field in the second inning, came two batters after a successful challenge by Mike Scioscia led to an overturned out call on the back end of a would-be inning-ending double play.
"I was kind of struggling with runners in scoring position," said Giavotella, who finished with a career-high four RBIs. "It was good to give the ballclub a boost."
Video: OAK@LAA: Giavotella hammers three-run shot to left
Plead the sixth: Things quickly went from bad to worse for the A's in the sixth inning, when a deficit of three runs turned into nine. Pomeranz offered up a leadoff double to C.J. Cron, and Alvarez proceeded to allow a pair of one-out singles to Giavotella and Calhoun, leading to a run. After three more hits, two wild pitches and two A's errors, the six-run frame finally came to an end.
Video: OAK@LAA: Freese singles to center to plate a pair
Santiago mows 'em down: Santiago, sharp from the beginning, struck out eight A's in six innings while allowing only three hits. Butler's home run accounted for the only run allowed by Santiago, who picked up his second win with a second straight gem.
"Hector started out with great life on his fastball," Scioscia said. "He did a good job pitching in, and had a good breaking ball, too. He was confident, and he gave us six strong innings." More >
Video: OAK@LAA: Santiago strikes out eight, gets the win
QUOTABLE
"You get what you deserve, more or less." -- Brett Lawrie, when asked what he thought of the Royals' Kelvin Herrera's five-game suspension for throwing at him on Sunday More >
"It's encouraging that there's progress, in a baseball direction. This is a better club with a healthy Josh Hamilton." -- Angels closer Huston Street, reacting to the news that injured outfielder will resume baseball activities in Arizona soon More >
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
A second-inning replay review overturned an out call on Cron at first base, wiping out the back end of an inning-ending double play. After a Chris Iannetta single sent Cron to second base, Giavotella hit his fifth Major League homer. An error on A's shortstop Marcus Semien let in a fourth run in the inning.
"Once Cron started signaling, we knew there was no way he was out," Giavotella said. "It was big."
Video: OAK@LAA: Out call overturned at first in 2nd
WHAT'S NEXT
Angels: Right-hander Jered Weaver (0-2, 6.61) bids for his first victory in his fourth start of the season on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium in the third game of the four-game series against the A's at 7:05 p.m. PT. He's 13-9 career vs. Oakland in 30 starts.
A's: Sonny Gray will face Weaver in a battle of Opening Day starters. Gray is 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA in eight career April starts and he's 2-1 with a 2.68 ERA in six appearances (five starts) against the Angels.
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