Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Torii Hunter hit a home run and scored twice while Dan Haren pitched six solid innings, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim defeated the Oakland Athletics, 4-2, at Angel Stadium.
Haren (4-4) allowed two runs on six hits with five strikeouts for the Angels, who have won the first two of this three-game series on the heels of a four- game skid.
Kevin Kouzmanoff homered for the A's, who have lost five straight games. Rajai Davis doubled and walked twice in the losing effort.
Oakland starting pitcher Dallas Braden (10-14) suffered the loss after he was charged with four runs -- three earned -- on 10 hits with three strikeouts.
Hunter led off the bottom of the second inning with his 22nd homer of 2010.
In the top of the fourth, the visitors knotted the contest via Kouzmanoff's solo blast to left field.
Another Oakland run in the fifth made it 2-1. Davis doubled with one out and scored on a base hit by Mark Ellis.
A two-run output in the home portion of the sixth put the Angels on top. Bobby Abreu laced a one-out single and Hunter followed with another base hit. Napoli then hit the third consecutive single of the stanza, which allowed Abreu to cross the plate. Hunter, who moved to third on Napoli's hit, scored when Hideki Matsui grounded out to the right side of the infield.
LA got an insurance run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Howie Kendrick.
Fernando Rodney took the mound for the top of the ninth. After two quick outs, Cliff Pennington singled and Davis walked, but Rodney settled down and induced a game-ending fly out to left field by Daric Barton.
Oakland left nine men on base...The Angels out-hit the A's, 10-9...Rodney earned his 14th save of the campaign...Both teams finished 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position...Braden has lost five of his last six starts.