Recap: LA Angels vs. Oakland
Sports Network | August 26, 2008
Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - John Lackey recorded his 13th career complete game to help the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim down the Oakland Athletics in a 5-1 victory in the second of a three-game set. Lackey (11-2) scattered seven hits, including a late homer, and fanned five without giving up a walk to take the win and move to 14-3 lifetime against the A's. Torii Hunter went 3-for-4, scored and knocked in a run for the Angels, who have won three of their last four games. Howie Kendrick and Gary Matthews both had two hits and an RBI in the win. Oakland starter Greg Smith (6-13) was saddled with the loss as he gave up five runs on a career-worst 10 hits in six innings of work. Smith has now lost seven of his last eight decisions. Rajai Davis went 2-for-4 and Jack Cust added a moot solo homer in the ninth for the A's, who have lost five of their last eight and have dropped 30-of-39 overall. The A's haven't won back-to-back games since July 10-11. The Angels got all the offense they needed in the third inning. With one gone in the frame, Chone Figgins worked a walk and Kendrick singled. Mark Teixeira followed with an RBI single that left runners on the corners. Hunter followed with an RBI double before Juan Rivera offered a sac fly to right, which plated Teixeira. Matthews concluded the scoring with an RBI single to left, and LA was sitting on a 4-0 cushion. LA tacked on an insurance run in the fourth as Mike Napoli opened the frame with a double, moved to third on Sean Rodriguez's sac bunt and crossed home two batters later as Kendrick laced an RBI single to left. Cust crushed a solo homer in the ninth to help Oakland avoid being blanked. Game Notes Lackey allowed just one runner to second base before Cust's blast in the ninth. He hasn't lost in nine starts since a July 5 setback to Toronto and has won his last six decisions...The 24-year-old Smith made his fourth start against Anaheim this season and is 1-3 versus the Angels in 2008. The last time he faced the Halos, though, Smith tossed a complete-game four-hitter at Angel Stadium to lead Oakland to a 6-1 win on June 30. The Angels have won nine of the 15 meetings between these AL West foes in 2008. Game Notes Lackey allowed just one runner to second base before Cust's blast in the ninth. He hasn't lost in nine starts since a July 5 setback to Toronto and has won his last six decisions...The 24-year-old Smith made his fourth start against Anaheim this season and is 1-3 versus the Angels in 2008. The last time he faced the Halos, though, Smith tossed a complete-game four-hitter at Angel Stadium to lead Oakland to a 6-1 win on June 30. The Angels have won nine of the 15 meetings between these AL West foes in 2008.
