The Oakland Athletics played the final game of a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night. One night after a one-of-a-kind pitching performance by Bartolo Colon, the A's took the field behind new lefty phenom Tom Milone. Thanks in large part to shoddy Los Angeles defense, Oakland took the series, three games to one, with a 4-2 win.
Oakland knew they would have their work cut out for them on Thursday, as they went up against dominating left-hander C.J. Wilson. The A's were able to get Milone an early lead, as Seth Smith drew a two-out walk in the top of the second inning and scored on a Kurt Suzuki double.
In the fourth inning, Yoenis Cespedes and Jonny Gomes drew back-to-back walks to start the frame. Smith then reached on a throwing error by Wilson that also allowed both baserunners to score and put Smith in scoring position, putting Oakland up 3-0. Kila Ka`aihue singled in Smith to stretch the lead to 4-0.
The A's saw their lead cut in half in the bottom of the frame, on an RBI double by Vernon Wells and a Mark Trumbo single that brought Wells home.
Fautino De Los Santos came out to pitch for Oakland in the bottom of the sixth and gave up a leadoff walk and a single. De Los Santos was then lifted for Jordan Norberto, who got a one-pitch groundout that was unable to score the runner. Norbetro then struck out Peter Bourjos and got a second groundout to end the inning.
Tom Milone went six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk, while striking out three. Grant Balfour picked up his fourth save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning.
Despite only picking up three hits in the game, the A's handed Wilson his first loss of the season, thanks to his costly throwing error.
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