Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Kurt Suzuki slid in safely at home in front of Howie Kendrick's throw from the infield grass in the 10th inning, lifting the Athletics over the Angels, 5-4, in a wet opener of a two-game series between the American League West rivals.
The A's tied the game on Daric Barton's RBI single in the ninth and came away with the dramatic win in their next at-bat.
After striking out Hideki Matsui on a payoff pitch to start the 10th, Fernando Rodney (2-2) walked Suzuki and Conor Jackson on nine total pitches. On a 2-1 count to Mark Ellis, Rodney threw a wild pitch to move both runners up a base.
Kendrick was shifted from left field to second base as an extra infielder, and Ellis hit a chopper right to him. Running on contact, Suzuki was able to score the deciding run on Kendrick's high and wide throw.
"What a great finish to a tough game," A's manager Bob Geren said. "That was a big win for the team."
A's starter Brett Anderson was charged with three runs on five hits and four walks over 6 2/3 innings, while his counterpart, Joel Pineiro, was strong over seven innings, allowing three runs -- only one earned -- on six hits.
Rain delayed the game 85 minutes, and the sky opened again just as the Angels were making their comeback after trailing, 3-0.
A single and two walks loaded the bases in the top of the sixth, and the visitors got within 3-2 on Alberto Callaspo's fielder's choice grounder and Mark Trumbo's sacrifice fly.
LA loaded the bases again in the seventh, and Kendrick gave the Angels their first lead with a single to left off Michael Wuertz, bringing in Bobby Abreu and Maicer Izturis.
In the ninth, Coco Crisp kept Oakland alive with a two-out single off Jordan Walden, then stole second and came around to tie the game when Barton dumped a single to center.
Anderson shook off Bobby Wilson's leadoff double in the fifth and got some run support in the bottom half.
With David DeJesus on first after getting plunked, Ellis hit a high chopper to third. Callaspo fielded the ball and looked briefly to second before rushing to get Ellis at first. The throw went wide, and DeJesus slid in at home to break the scoreless tie.
Ellis took third on the error and scored on a single by Cliff Pennington, who moved to third on Crisp's double and made it 3-0 on a sac fly by Josh Willingham.
Game Notes
Wuertz was touched for two hits and a walk while recording only one out. He allowed only one hit in 9 1/3 innings coming into the game...Anderson, winless in five career starts against the Angels, struck out seven in the no- decision...The Angels had won six of the previous seven in the series...Walden suffered his third blown save...Izturis had three hits in the loss...Both teams were coming off series losses over the weekend. The A's dropped two of three to the White Sox, while the Angels did the same against the Rangers.
For more news and information on the Angels, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog Halos Heaven.