Howie Kendrick leads the Angels over Athletics, 5-4

Second baseman Howie Kendrick drove in three runs against Oakland Athletics right-hander Jon Lester, leading the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to a 5-4 win over an Oakland team fighting for its postseason life in front of its home crowd.

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Lester (16-11, 2.46 ERA) was hit for five runs – just three of which were earned – on eight hits, striking out seven. Kendrick, who went 2-for-4 in the contest, proved to be a major thorn in the side of the Oakland southpaw early on, driving in the Angels’ first three runs on the afternoon.

Kendrick opened the scoring with a single in the top of the first inning, following that up with the aforementioned RBI double in his next at-bat, putting Los Angeles ahead 3-0. An Albert Pujols sacrifice fly tacked on a fourth run in the top of the fifth. During that same inning, Angels center fielder and AL MVP candidate Mike Trout left the game with a stomach-related illness.

In the top of the seventh, the Angels (98-61) added another run. With a runner at first and nobody out, Collin Cowgill dropped a bunt down on the third base side. Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson charged, barehanding the ball and making a throw to first that was wide, sailing into foul territory, allowing Gordon Beckham to score to make it 5-0.

Oakland (86-72) furiously attempted to rally in the bottom of the inning, scoring four times against Angels reliever Mike Morin, who has been solid all season long. With a runner on first and one out, Jed Lowrie singled to put runners on the corners for Josh Reddick. The Oakland outfielder lined a two-run double to left, putting the Athletics on the board and making it a 5-2 ballgame.

A Nick Punto triple scored Reddick and after a pitching change, Coco Crisp drove in a run to make it a 5-4 contest. With fans anxiously hoping for a come-from-behind win, Sam Fuld grounded into a force out for the second out, advancing to second when the next batter, Josh Donaldson, drew a two-out walk. Slugger Adam Dunn, who entered as a pinch-hitter, then struck out, stranding both the tying and the go-ahead runs on base and ending the Athletics’ hopes of a rally.

Lester’s counterpart, Hector Santiago was simply dominant as an Angels starter turned in at least five shutout innings for the second consecutive contest. Santiago (6-9, 3.81 ERA) scattered just three hits in 5 1/3 innings of work, walking a pair and striking out three.

Huston Street entered in the ninth, converting his 41st save of the season in 1-2-3 fashion.

With the loss, Oakland falls a half-game back of Kansas City for the top Wild Card spot in the American League. The Royals are in action against Cleveland Wednesday night. The Athletics’ lead over the Seattle Mariners for the second Wild Card berth also falls to 2 1/2 games. Seattle is in action against the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday evening.

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