One constant, however, has been Chone Figgins in the leadoff spot. Figgins had his second consecutive three-hit game Tuesday, scoring once and driving in two runs to key an offense that, over the course of the trip, averaged nearly six runs a game.
Oakland starter Dallas Braden, who had given up only two runs in his last three starts combined, gave up that many in the second inning alone -- though it was no fault of his own.
With two out and the bases empty, Braden got Juan Rivera to ground to third for what should have been the final out. But Bobby Crosby booted the ball and the Angels made him pay when Erick Aybar, Figgins and Gary Matthews Jr. followed with consecutive singles to give the Angels a 2-0 lead.
After the Athletics cut that advantage in half in the bottom of the second, consecutive two-out hits by Aybar, Figgins and Matthews in the fourth -- the last one a two-run double -- gave Loux a little more breathing room. Figgins drove in the final run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
The Athletics made it interesting in the ninth when Matt Holliday hit a two-run home run off Scot Shields, but Brian Fuentes came on to get the final two out for his seventh save.
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kevin.baxter@latimes.com
