MIKE SCIOSCIA and the Angels watched an early lead slip away in 3-2 loss to Oakland Tuesday night. (Flickr/Keith Allison).

By Pete Zarustica

All’s well that ends well … for the Oakland A’s, not the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. At least not Tuesday night. The Halos lost 3-2 when the home Athletics scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Ricky Nolasco had a perfect game going well into the fifth, and appeared to be in control when the roof fell in the eighth. The A’s, who only had four hits in the whole game, put together two along with two walks to push across the necessary runs.

Joey Wendle had the key hit for Oakland, driving in two runs with a sharp single to right. The Angels hit only a little better, with five. Andrelton Simmons and Albert Pujols each had a pair. Simmons and Kaleb Cowart each drove in a run for the Angels, now 62-76 and still in fourth place in the American League West.

The Halos wasted a strong start by Nolasco (5-13), who finished seven innings plus with two hits and three runs charged against him. He struck out five batters and walked two.

“He’s been tremendous,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “We’ve talked about the rotation and the lack of quality starts and he goes back-to-back games. Ricky is better than his record indicates. Hopefully he’ll pitch with some consistency like we’ve seen.”

The series concludes Wednesday in Oakland when Alex Meyer makes his pitching debut for the Angels. Then it’s a day off Thursday for travel, then start a 10-game home stand on Friday, beginning with the Texas Rangers.