Angels 5, Oakland 4
KEY MOMENT: The star of Kole Calhoun bobblehead night was none other than Calhoun himself. In the sixth inning, with the Angels down by one run, Calhoun delivered a two-run single. After the A’s had gone back ahead, Calhoun delivered the game-winning home run in the eighth inning.
AT THE PLATE: In the eighth inning, two batters before Calhoun hit the homer, Mike Trout hit the game-tying homer. For Trout, the home run was his 18th this season, tying Nelson Cruz for the American League lead. Trout is on pace for 48 home runs; he hit a career-high 36 last season.
ON THE MOUND: The A’s trailed, 3-2, with two out in the seventh inning and Josh Reddick at bat. Reddick is batting .145 off left-handers and .371 off right-handers, but the Angels stayed with right-hander Fernando Salas. Reddick hit the two-run home run that put the A’s ahead. Angels starter Hector Santiago needed 106 pitches to get through 52⁄3 innings. He gave up two runs and seven hits, striking out six.
YOU’RE OUTTA HERE: Instant replay has made the managerial argument all but extinct, but Mike Scioscia was ejected after putting on an old-fashioned, jaw-to-jaw show in the sixth inning. The Angels led, 3-2, and Johnny Giavotella was called out after appearing to beat out an infield single that would have given the Angels two on and none out. Replays appeared to show Giavotella had beaten the throw, but the Angels could not challenge via replay because Scioscia had lost a previous challenge.
THIRD WHEEL: Third baseman David Freese said he has been cleared by doctors to return to the lineup Saturday. Freese sat out his third consecutive start Friday because of a sore hamstring. … With Freese returning, the Angels could try rookie Kyle Kubitza in left field, Manager Mike Scioscia said. Freese is eligible for free agency this fall, and the Angels would like Kubitza to succeed him. “He has the potential to be a premium defender at third base,” Scioscia said. “I don’t know if you want to give up on that.”
MILLIONAIRE: The Angels signed their first-round draft choice, Fresno State catcher Taylor Ward, for a bonus of $1.67 million — almost 20% below the $2.034-million bonus recommended for the 26th pick. "This is such a great organization with such great fans,” Ward said. “I’m really blessed to be part of it. With these guys, it didn’t take much for me to sign. Anything to help them out, that’s what I’m going to do. The Angels came after me from day one at Fresno State.” Scouting director Ric Wilson said the team would have drafted Ward even if he had insisted on the full recommended value but said the team now can apply the savings to signing its other picks. “We’ll be able to sign everybody” of interest, Wilson said.
UP NEXT: C.J. Wilson (3-5, 3.92 ERA) faces Oakland’s Kendall Graveman (3-2, 4.82) on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Angel Stadium. TV: FS West; Radio: 830, 1330.