OAKLAND (AP) — Coco Crisp and Yoenis Cespedes homered for the A’s on Wednesday’s but Oakland’s usually reliable closer let an opportunity slip away in the 11th inning of a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.
Josh Hamilton hit a tying two-run homer in the ninth inning against Grant Balfour and then put the Angels ahead with a sacrifice fly in the 11th.
“He’s had a great year if you look at it overall,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said of Balfour. “Three blown saves is going to do it anywhere. He had good stuff (Wednesday). He got one fastball not to the right spot against a pretty good fastball hitter.”
Balfour set an Oakland record with his 41st consecutive save earlier in the season. His 38 saves this season is most by an A’s pitcher since Keith Foulke had 43 in 2003. He gave up a run to the Angels for the first time this year.
Crisp and Cespedes each hit two-run home runs for the A’s, who lost for the third time in 12 games. But they have a 6 1/2-game lead over Texas in the AL West.
Josh Donaldson, the star of Tuesday night’s walkoff win over the Angels, fumbled a sacrifice bunt attempt for an error in the 11th that led to the go-ahead run.
Mets edge Giants on late rally
NEW YORK (AP) — Josh Satin hit a two-run single to cap a four-run rally in the ninth inning that sent the New York Mets past the San Francisco Giants, 5-4, on Wednesday night.
Shut down by Matt Cain for almost eight innings, the makeshift Mets lineup put together a surprising comeback. Pinch-hitter Zach Lutz had an RBI double and Juan Centeno, making his major league debut, knocked in a run with a single off closer Sergio Romo (4-8).
Gregor Blanco hit a two-run homer and Brandon Crawford had an RBI single for San Francisco.