The All-Star break didn’t do any favors for the Angels as they dropped the first game coming back from the four day lay-off to the Oakland A’s 5-3. Although the time off didn’t seem to have any effect on the Oakland batters, the Halos and especially Dan Haren, appeared to be rusty has he matched a season high 10 hits over 6.1 innings. The big blow was a monster 2-run home run by Josh Willingham on a hanging breaking ball in the third that put the A’s up 3-0.
The Angels failed to take advantage of a bases load, one out situation in the 6th when Erick Aybar grounded into an inning ending double play. In the inning, recent call-up Mike Trout got his first major league RBI when he lined a single to right to score Mark Trumbo. The scoring started when pinch-hitter Maicer Izturis drew a bases loaded walk, the third base on balls allowed by reliever David Wuertz in the inning, pushing across Alberto Callaspo for the Angels second run. Trout’s single drew the Halos to within one, but the inning ended with Aybar’s groundout.
This is Haren’s second loss of the season to Oakland. He previously was beat on May 24 after having never lost to his former club. The loss drops the Angels to 2.5 games behind the division leading Texas Rangers who shutout Seattle for the second straight night.