A's comeback falls short in 6-5 loss to Angels

OAKLAND — The Athletics couldn't get out of town fast enough. It's probably a good thing, too, that the first month of the season is finally over.

Manager Bob Melvin's ballclub has matched its worst home start in Oakland history, has yet to win a day game this season and ended April having dropped six of seven to fall five games under .500 (9-14).

Not even a three-run rally in the ninth inning was enough to take the sting off this one.

Kole Calhoun had two hits and three RBIs, Garrett Richards took a shutout into the seventh inning, and the Los Angeles Angels held on to beat the A's 6-5 on Thursday.

'It was an awful homestand,' Melvin said. 'We have to play better than that and we have to do it soon. The last inning was pretty spirited … but it's still not a win.'

Mark Canha drove in three runs, two on a homer, as the A's fell to 4-9 at home. That ties the teams from 1968, 2000 and 2001 for the worst start at O.co Coliseum.

A 10-game road trip with seven at night never looked so inviting.

'The good thing is we've got five more (months),' Ike Davis said. 'We're not losing by crazy amounts of runs. We've got a lot of time to catch up and get back in it.'

Vinnie Pestano started the ninth by walking Billy Butler and giving up a single to Josh Reddick. Huston Street came on and gave up run-scoring singles to Brett Lawrie and Canha. He walked pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt to load the bases before getting pinch-hitter Max Muncy on a popup.

Sam Fuld followed with another RBI single. Street, who allowed his first runs of the year, got Marcus Semien on a popup before Davis hit a ball to deep center that Mike Trout caught before hitting the wall to give the closer his ninth save.

Erick Aybar, Johnny Giavotella and David Freese also drove in runs for the Angels, who have won five of seven to end April with a .500 record (11-11).

Richards, making his third start after opening the season on the disabled list, was pulled after Reddick singled to open the seventh, and was charged with a run after Canha's home run off Mike Morin.

Richards (2-1) gave up four hits, walked three and struck out five.

Oakland starter Jesse Chavez (0-2) lasted five innings for the A's. He allowed four runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out five.

Calhoun, batting cleanup in the absence of Albert Pujols, drove in two runs in the fifth after Trout, who added two hits and was on base four times, was walked intentionally.

Calhoun improved to .438 hitter (7 for 16), with seven RBIs, in eight games batting fourth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Angels: Pujols was out of the lineup with a sore hamstring suffered late in Wednesday night's victory over the A's. Manager Mike Scioscia said the team would re-evaluate him daily.

Athletics: LHP Sean Doolittle (strained left rotator cuff) threw 25 pitches and felt fine. He will throw another bullpen on Sunday. … RHP Jarrod Parker (Tommy John surgery) is scheduled to make his next rehab start with Triple-A Nashville. … Canha returned to the lineup after missing a few days with an illness.

PITCHING RECORD CHANGE

RHP Mike Morin (1-0), who struck out the only batter he faced, became the official winning pitcher of Wednesday night's 6-3 victory over the A's. The victory was incorrectly awarded to RHP Fernando Salas, who threw a scoreless inning after taking over for Morin. Salas (0-1) does get credit for a hold.

UP NEXT

Angels: LHP C.J. Wilson (1-2, 3.12) starts Friday's game at San Francisco. He's 9-7 with seven saves in 50 career interleague games, including 20 starts. He beat the Giants in his only previous start against them, in 2012.

Athletics: LHP Scott Kazmir (2-0, 0.99) opens the series against the Rangers in Texas Friday. Opponents are batting .051 against him with runners on base. His 10 wins against the Rangers match his most against any team.