A’s muscle up for 11-5 win against Angels

OAKLAND - Mark Canha hit a three-run homer, Jake Smolinski’s three-run double highlighted a decisive third inning and the Oakland Athletics beat the Los Angeles Angels 11-5 on Monday in another quirky night at the Coliseum when part of the outfield wall fell down and delayed the game.

Danny Valencia added a two-run double in the third and another RBI double in the fifth to back Felix Doubront (2-1) in his first win for Oakland.

A piece of the outfield wall came loose after Los Angeles left fielder Shane Victorino crashed into it trying to chase down Valencia’s double in the fifth, causing a 10-minute delay as players briefly returned to their dugouts.

The piece that fell was a middle red panel of an advertising sign. Angels manager Mike Scioscia switched pitchers after the delay.

Only hours earlier, the stadium was rapidly transformed back to a baseball diamond after the Oakland Raiders hosted the Arizona Cardinals in an NFL preseason game Sunday night.

The A’s didn’t work out on the field beforehand during that process.

Erick Aybar hit an RBI single and a sacrifice fly in his first two plate appearances for the Angels, while Albert Pujols singled in a run.

Oakland chased Angels starter Hector Santiago (7-9) after 22/3 innings as the A’s earned their first three-game winning streak since Aug. 7-9 against Houston.

Doubront allowed four runs on seven hits in six-plus innings, striking out five and walking four in his first win since July 7 at the White Sox. It was the lefty’s fifth appearance and third start with the A’s since being traded by Toronto on July 31.

The Angels lost for the ninth time in 11 games and the 17th time in 20 road contests after being swept at Cleveland during a weekend series.

Santiago lost his third consecutive start, fifth consecutive decision and saw his winless stretch reach eight outings since a win against the Red Sox on July 20 gave him three consecutive victories.

The left-hander was tagged for five runs and four hits, struck out four and walked three in his shortest start this year and the shortest since one inning last Sept. 19 at Texas.

He had been 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA against the A’s since the beginning of last season.

NOTES

A’s relief pitcher Evan Scribner was removed in the ninth with an injury, further slowing the slow game.

LHP reliever Sean Doolittle, who has made three appearances since returning from a shoulder injury Aug. 22, won’t pitch three days in row as the A’s remain cautious with him. “We have a plan for how much we’re going to use him,” manager Bob Melvin said.