Angels Comeback Not Enough, Lose To A's 6-5

Anaheim, CA - Angels Manager Mike Scioscia (pictured) is the model of calm under pressure.

Except for Wedneday nights game against the Oakland A's.

It started earlier, when 2B Erick Aybar was called out looking at a full count fastball that came in inches above the plate.

It continued later in the evening over called strikes, and ultimately crashed in the 7th inning.

With his team trailing by two, the skipper called for a pitching change, after a seemingly lengthy mound consultation. Home plate umpire Paul Schreiber walked toward the mound, had a few words exchanged with Scioscia, and promptly tossed the Angels manager.

Bench Coach Ron Roenicke finished the last three innings in pure Scioscia fashion, and the Angels threatened in the 9th but ultimately came up short on the comeback. 

The A's got ahead early, tagging starter Joe Saunders for six runs. He was replaced by Loux, a long reliever, after just 1.1 innings, his shortest start of this season, and his major league career. Injury might have played a part in his early struggles spotting the ball anywhere but over the middle of the plate. Replays of an attempted bare hand grab showed significant swelling in his hand after the attempt, and he just didn't seem to recover.

Injuries might be a bit of an issue suddenly, throughout the lineup. Third Baseman Chone Figgins sat the game because of an injury to his toe in a run down the night before. Second Baseman Howie Kendrick took himself out of the game complaining of hamstring tightness, the same hamstring that sidelined the infielder for over a month earlier in the season. Erick Aybar took himself out of the lineup, also, citing similar hamstring tightness.

Faced with some bumps a bruises, backup outfielder Juan Rivera played Second base in the 9th.

The 40-man roster expansion can't get here fast enough for these Angels.

Good news came in the form of the bullpen, though. Relievers Loux, Oliver, Arredondo and Speier combined to shut the A's down after Saunders 2nd inning exit.

Final Score, Angels 5, Athletics 6.