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Athletics score eight in first, hammer Angels, 9-1

Oakland gets grand slam from Conor Jackson

The Athletics took advantage of Angels' starter Joel Pineiro's control problems to explode for eight runs in the first inning before cruising to a 9-1 victory over Los Angeles (51-45) on Sunday.

Oakland (42-54) loaded the bases with no outs without getting a hit, as Pineiro walked the first three batters he faced. Hideki Matsui proceeded to single to make it 2-0. After Scott Sizemore walked to re-load the bases, Josh Willingham scored when David DeJesus reached on an error. With the bases still full, Conor Jackson took an 0-1 offering out of the park to blow the game open and extend the lead to 7-0. The A's final run came when Jemile Weeks delivered a two-out single to plate Pennington, who had doubled right before him.

Matsui drove in another run in the third when he hit into a fielder's choice to push the score to 9-0.

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It remained there until the ninth when Los Angeles busted up the shutout via a two-out single by Bobby Wilson.

Los Angeles starter Joel Pineiro, who came into the game 5-3, lasted just 1/3 of inning after surrendering eight runs--seven earned--on four hits and four walks.

In addition to Conor Jackson, Jemile Weeks and Coco Crisp had two-hit games for Oakland.

Gio Gonzalez allowed just four hits and struck out eight over seven shutout innings, as he improved to 9-6.

By: Thomas "Bubba" Rosenbaum
MLBCenter.com Staff Writer

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