Athletics Erase Six-Run Deficit to Defeat Angels 9-7 in West Sacramento

The Athletics erased a six-run deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 9-7 in West Sacramento, ending a six-game losing streak and moving closer to avoiding last place in the AL West. Carlos Cortes delivered a pinch-hit RBI triple in the seventh and a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth, while Zack Gelof added a two-run blast later in the inning. Shea Langeliers and Lawrence Butler each had three hits for Oakland, which scored three times in the eighth to take control. Denzer Guzman homered and drove in four runs for Los Angeles, while Vaughn Grissom and Mike Trout each collected three hits; the loss was the Angels’ fourth in six games and left them 60-97, three losses short of the first 100-loss season in franchise history. Oakland improved to 62-95, and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer returned to the Athletics lineup after emergency surgery for a ruptured testicle. The teams will meet again Wednesday in the series finale.
Angels reliever Sam Bachman reacted angrily after surrendering Cortes’ go-ahead homer, firing his glove into the dugout bench three times. It was another collapse for Bachman at Sutter Health Park after he gave up a tying two-run homer in the ninth inning of a June 19 loss there.
Oakland’s comeback was aided by a defensive error in the sixth inning: Vaughn Grissom’s throwing error allowed Lawrence Butler to score, helping the Athletics begin their rally after trailing 6-0.
Yusei Kikuchi held Oakland to two runs and seven hits over 5â…“ innings, while Athletics starter Brady Basso allowed five runs and six hits in just two-plus innings.
Hogan Harris secured his 16th save for Oakland after allowing a two-out run in the ninth, striking out Oswald Peraza looking to end the Angels’ attempted rally.
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer’s return came after the Athletics activated him from the 60-day injured list; he had ruptured a testicle fouling a pitch off himself against Arizona on July 20 and underwent emergency surgery that night.
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