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Bullpen falters again in a 6-5 loss

THE ANGELS have lost six of eight, but Mike Trout is hitting well, raising his batting average to .324. Halos lost 6-5 in 11 innings on Sunday (Angels photo).

By Pete Zarustica

The Los Angeles Angels, who usually do great away from the Big A, and not as well at home, may be glad to see Anaheim’s friendly sights after a rocky road trip.

On Sunday, they suffered through a come-from-ahead 6-5 loss in 11 innings to the Oakland A’s. It was their sixth defeat in seven games.

As has become typical, the Angels blew a lead late in the game, giving up two runs in the ninth inning and finally losing two innings later. The loss now has the Halos at 38-34. They’re still in third place in the American League West, but are 9.5 games back of the division-leading Houston Astros and just two games ahead of the Athletics.

Starter Andrew Heaney did well, working eight innings and yielding three runs on three hits. He struck out eight batters and walked one. But the five relievers who followed faltered, walking four batters and giving up three runs on four hits.

“The guys who came out of the bullpen just brought too many walks with them,” said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. “We put too many guys on base from the ninth inning on.”

At bat, the Angels staked Heaney to a 5-2 lead on a home run by Chris Young (his fifth of the season) and RBIs by Justin Upton and Albert Pujols. Mike Trout had two hits and was walked twice. His batting average is now at .324. That’s seventh in the majors.

But the A’s bounced back with a home run by Marcus Semien to tie the game at five-all in the ninth. The winning run came on Jonathan Lucroy’s bases loaded single.

The Angels are back at home on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Jaime Barria (5-2) will face Zack Greinke (5-5).

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