OAKLAND, Calif. – Bobby Wilson did everything he could to grab the ball and tag Kurt Suzuki at the same time. It was a frustrating feeling after rallying to take the lead only to fall in extra innings.
Suzuki scored from third base in the 10th inning on a fielder's choice grounder to an outfielder playing in the infield, lifting the Oakland Athletics to a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night.
"He just got underneath me," Wilson said of the five-man, drawn-in infield play that led to the winning run. "I had to leave my feet to get to it. Ideally, I want to sit on the plate.
Suzuki drew a one-out walk off Los Angeles reliever Fernando Rodney (2-2), moved to second on another walk then took third on a wild pitch.
After Angels manager Mike Scioscia called in left fielder Howie Kendrick to play in the infield, Mark Ellis hit a sharp grounder to Kendrick near second base. Kendrick tried to throw home but the ball sailed high as Suzuki slid across the plate.
"It was a tough play for Howie," Wilson said. "He had to grab it and throw across his body. He did a good job of getting it there."
Rodney recorded one out in 25 pitches, walking two.
"We're going to get back to the drawing board," Scioscia said. "We need Fernando. It's obvious he's having some issues. He can't bring his best stuff into games because he's behind so much. He's going to have to make adjustments. That's the bottom line."
Grant Balfour (3-1) pitched one inning with three strikeouts for the win.
The start of the game was delayed by rain for 1 hour, 25 minutes. It's the third time in seven days the A's have had games interrupted because of weather.
The Angels trailed 3-0 before rallying for two runs in the sixth and two in the seventh.
Maicer Izturis started the comeback with a leadoff single in the sixth. After back-to-back walks by Oakland starter Brett Anderson loaded the bases, Alberto Callaspo drove in one run with a fielder's choice grounder. Mark Trumbo followed with a sacrifice fly to cut Oakland's lead to 3-2.
Reliever Michael Wuertz gave up an infield single to Izturis then walked Torii Hunter to load the bases. Kendrick followed with a sharp single to the gap in left-center, driving in Bobby Abreu and Izturis to give the Angels a 4-3 lead.
The A's scored three runs off Angels starter Joel Pineiro in the fifth.
Scott Downs pitched a scoreless eighth for the Angels then turned it over to Jordan Walden. Walden, who had blown two previous save opportunities, couldn't hold the lead.
Pineiro gave up three runs and six hits over seven innings, coming up shy in his first bid at career victory No. 100.
Aybar went 0 for 4 with a walk, ending his career-high 13-game hitting streak. Aybar tried bunting for a hit in the ninth but was thrown out by Oakland third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff on a close play.
Notes: Oakland LHP Dallas Braden will undergo shoulder surgery Tuesday morning in New York. Braden was originally scheduled to have the operation Monday but his flight was canceled. ... Closer Andrew Bailey will pitch in his second extended spring training game in Arizona, and the A's two-time All-Star could begin a rehab assignment in the minors next week. ... IF Adam Rosales will have a CAT scan on his right foot Tuesday. If he's cleared, Rosales — who had surgery in December — will head to Arizona to play in an extended spring training game.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.