A's Bullpen Can't Hold Late Lead In 5-4 Loss To Angels
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The one-run losses are coming again for the Oakland Athletics after an offseason spent focusing on shoring up the back end of the bullpen to avoid just this type of situation.
Not even a pair of home runs from Marcus Semien was enough to pull manager Bob Melvin's ballclub out of this one.
Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle gave up two runs apiece over the final two innings and the Los Angeles Angels rallied from three runs down to beat Athletics 5-4 on Tuesday night.
"They had some pretty good hitters get some good at-bats off 'em," Melvin said. "Both guys looked good out there. The bullpen's been great. You gotta give them credit, too."
The A's fell to 3-3 in one-run games this season, one year after leading the league with 35 one-run losses.
This one was Doolittle's second loss in five appearances. It also was the first time Madson has allowed a run in 17 appearances dating to last season.
"We were handed a lead late in the game and I couldn't get the job done," Doolittle said. "It is early in the season but that's twice already. I feel like it's in there, but I have to be better, I have to be more consistent."
Geovany Soto hit a go-ahead two-run homer off Doolittle with one out in the ninth. That followed Albert Pujols' two-run double in the eighth off Madson that helped get the Angels back in the game.
Semien homered twice and Josh Reddick drove in two runs for the A's, who will try to avoid a sweep Wednesday afternoon.
Doolittle (1-2) and Madson couldn't get it done after Kendall Graveman's strong start.
Mike Morin retired one batter in the eighth for the win before Huston Street finished for his third save in as many days.
A's designated hitter Billy Butler was back in the starting lineup for the first time in six games after sitting the past five against right-handed starters. He went 0 for 4 with a strikeout and grounded into a double play.
Graveman allowed one run on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks over six innings. He held Mike Trout and Pujols hitless in their initial five at-bats with a strikeout and walk to cleanup hitter Pujols.
SEMIEN SHINES
Semien homered in the third and again in the seventh. It was his second career two-homer game and first since May 10 last year at Seattle. Melvin was equally impressed with Semien's glove work. A year after he led the majors with 35 errors, the Oakland shortstop has just one this year. "He's been playing good defense," Melvin said. "He's just out there playing now, with all the work that he does. Mechanically he's much more sound, he's more confident."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Struggling 1B C.J. Cron had most of the day off to "exhale," as manager Mike Scioscia put it.
Athletics: LHP Felix Doubront underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a torn elbow ligament using a hamstring graft in this case. ... RHP Henderson Alvarez (right shoulder surgery) felt good facing hitters Monday and the A's were planning a simulated game as his next step. ... INF Eric Sogard (strained neck) was in Oakland to work out.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Matt Shoemaker (0-1, 18.00 ERA) looks to bounce back from his first outing last Friday against Texas, during which he surrendered six earned runs in three innings.
Athletics: LHP Eric Surkamp (0-0, 4.15 ERA) faces the Angels for the first time in his career. It will be his second start after being recalled from Triple-A Nashville last Friday, then making his Oakland debut that night in Seattle.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
