Blown Save In 9th Costs Oakland Athletics This Time; Angels Walk Off 5-4 In 12

Apr 16, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols (5) breaks up a double play as Oakland Athletics second baseman Eric Sogard (28) throws to first base in the ninth inning of the game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

For the second straight night, the Oakland Athletics unsettled bullpen allowed the Los Angeles Angels to tie a game in the bottom of the ninth. On Wednesday, however, there would be no extra-inning heroics for the A’s.

Chris Iannetta took the first pitch he saw from reliever Drew Pomeranz (1-1) over the wall in center field to power the Angels to a 5-4 win over the A’s in 12 innings at Angel Stadium.

Iannetta came up with two outs in the bottom of the 12th and wasted no time in turning around a Pomeranz fastball for the walk off blast.

The loss prevented Oakland (10-5) from completing a three-game sweep of the Angels (7-8), but the A’s still wrapped up a 7-2 road trip, taking two of three in both Seattle and Anaheim and sweeping the Twins in Minneapolis.

The A’s scored all of their runs in the fourth inning off Angels starter Tyler Skaggs.

Josh Donaldson led off the frame with a single and advanced to second on a groundout. Derek Norris singled into the hole at shortstop, moving Donaldson to third, and Alberto Callaspo doubled to left to tie the game 1-1.

One out later, Brandon Moss lined his second homer of the season to right field. His three-run shot put Oakland up 4-1.

After surrendering a couple of runs in the seventh, the A’s still led 4-3 heading to the bottom of the ninth and Luke Gregerson came on to try and close it out.

Mike Trout and Albert Pujols hit back-to-back singles to put runners at first and third with one out and Howie Kendrick grounded a ball to Donaldson at third. Kendrick beat out the back end—the ball was hit softly and Donaldson made a long underhand toss to Eric Sogard at second—and Trout scored to tie the game.

The Angels scored first off Tommy Milone in the third on Trout’s RBI double.

Milone was still on the hill to start the seventh and Milone was ruled to have hit Iannetta with a pitch leading off the inning. Oakland manager Bob Melvin challenged the call, but the ruling on the field was upheld and Iannetta trotted to first. Collin Cowgill followed with a single and that chased Milone in favor of right-hander Dan Otero.

A force out up the middle put runners and first and third and J.B. Shuck grounded a ball to Callaspo at first base. Callaspo, making just his second career start at the position, threw low to shortstop Nick Punto, who couldn’t handle the errant toss. Everyone was safe and Iannetta scored to make it a 4-2 game. After Trout struck out, Pujols lined a single up the middle to score Erick Aybar, cutting the Oakland lead to 4-3.

Milone delivered a quality start for the A’s, working six-plus inning and allowing three runs—two earned—on six hits and two walks, fanning one. Otero allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout in 1.1 innings. Fernando Abad got a man out in the eighth and Ryan Cook retired his only batter in the eighth via strikeout. Gregerson was hit with his second blown save and also worked the 10th before turning the game over to Pomeranz, who allowed a run on two hits with a strikeout in 1.2 innings.

Joe Smith (1-0) got the win, pitching the top of the 12th for Los Angeles.

The A’s had eight hits on the night, three of them by Jed Lowrie, who was in the DH spot Wednesday. Pujols was 3-for-5 for the Angels.

Oakland is off on Thursday and opens a series with the Houston Astros at O.co Coliseum Friday at 7:05 p.m. Sonny Gray (2-0, 0.95 ERA) is slated to work for the A’s, with Jarred Cosart (1-1, 4.00 ERA) scheduled for Houston.