Angels take 3 or 4 from the A's

Strong starting pitching and some timely hitting gave California a 3-1 series win over Oakland.

August 21 - Oakland Coliseum

Nolan Ryan struck out 10 over 7 innings and Jim Spencer had 3 hits and 2 RBIs to lead the Angels to an 8-3 win.  California broke it open in the 6th with a 5-run rally off Oakland starter Blue Moon Odom.  Ryan cruised through 6 innings, but stumbled in the 7th, as the Athletics pushed across 3 runs and brought the tying run to the plate.  But pinch hitter Dave Duncan lines to shortstop to allow Ryan out of the jam. Eddie Fisher and Dave LaRoche finished out the game to seal the victory.   

August 22 - Oakland Coliseum

Dave Duncan's 2-run HR off Eddie Fisher with one out in the bottom of the 8th inning broke a 3-3 tie and propelled Oakland to a 5-3 win over California.  Both starters - Catfish Hunter and Andy Messersmith - were shakey in the 1st inning, each yielding 3 runs.  Then both settled down after the 1st and put up nothing but goose eggs the rest of the way.  But Hunter was able to last the full 9 innings for a complete game win, while Messersmith gave way with 1-out in the 7th inning.   Aside from Duncan, Reggie Jackson also knocked in 2 runs.  Mickey Rivers banged out 3 hits and had 2 stolen bases for the Angels in a losing cause.       

August 23 - Anahiem Stadium

Don Baylor 5th inning HR off Vida Blue with 2 out and 1 on proved to be the difference in a California 3-2 victory.  The Angles managed only 4 hits off Blue, who pitched the whole game for the Athletics and struck out 9.  He wasn't helped much by his defense, as 2 errors allowed the Halso to score an unearned run in the 3rd.  Californina starter Frank Tanana gave up a solo HR to Bill North to start the game and another to Gene Tenace in the 6th to make it a 3-2 game.  Oakland managed to put the tying run on 3rd with no outs in the top of the 9th and then to loaded the bases with 1 out.   But Lloyd Allen struck out Joe Rudi and Dave LaRoche got Reggie Jackson to pop out to save the game for Tanana.   

August 24 - Anaheim Stadium

Clyde Wright tossed a complete game 3-hitter and Don Baylor put the game away with a 3-run bomb in the bottom of the 8th as California topped Oakland in the series fianl 7-1.  Kenny Holtzman went the distance for Oakland,  and like the day before, was hurt by a poor A's defense, which gave up 3 unearned runs.  But it wouldn't have mattered much this day, as Wright was in complete the whole game.  Oakland did load the bases with 2 outs in the top of the 9th.  But Wright struck out Phil Garner to end the game.    

--submitted by D.Zaner--