ATHLETICS WALK ALL OVER ISSUE 10 BASE ON BALLS IN LOSING TO DIVISION RIVALS A'S OAKLAND 5, ANGELS 3.

Byline: Doug Padilla Staff Writer

OAKLAND - Getting pummeled into submission would have seemed better than the way the Angels went down Friday.

Angels pitchers combined to allow 10 walks, with four of them scoring, during a 5-3 Oakland Athletics' victory in the first meeting this season between the division rivals.

The walks were the most allowed by Angels pitchers since they gave up 11 against the New York Yankees on May 19, 2004.

Starter John Lackey reverted to his wild ways with a career-high seven walks. He threw 113 pitches in just five-plus innings and also hit a batter.

Pinpoint control had been one of his strengths this season as he gave up just two walks in his previous three starts (19 innings). Yet, for all the free passes, Lackey still left the game with the lead.

Both A's runs off Lackey reached base on a walk as Mark Kotsay scored on a Bobby Crosby double in the third inning and Nick Swisher came home on a Mark Ellis double in the fourth.

But the Angels scored two runs of their own in the fourth on a single by Garret Anderson and a sacrifice fly by Darin Erstad. Anderson gave the Angels, and Lackey, a 3-2 lead in the sixth on his first home run since April 14 and third of the season.

Lackey's day was done though, when he walked the first two A's batters in the sixth inning.

J.C. Romero entered and was greeted with a sacrifice bunt by Jason Kendall to put both runners in scoring position. But he struck out Dan Johnson and Ellis to end the threat.

He was not as fortunate in the seventh inning when he walked Marco Scutaro with one out and Eric Chavez followed with a home run to right, his seventh of the season.

The A's added an insurance run in the eighth inning off an ineffective Esteban Yan. Swisher greeted Yan with a walk and Jason Kendall followed with an RBI double.

For all the walks Lackey contributed, he ended up allowing a season-low two hits. The two runs matched a season low from each of his last two starts.

"John went through some terrific stretches last year where his walks were down and when his mechanics are together and he's making his pitches he has that ability to go right after hitters and challenge them and make them put the ball in play,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. "That's when he's at his best.''

Finding a way to be competitive despite all the walks has been a Lackey trademark.

"I think what's really helped John is when he's not quite as locked in and maybe a little erratic, where there is a walk or two more in a game,'' Scioscia said.

"He's able to still make pitches, get back in a count and minimize damage and keep going. "He's also shown in his growth in the last couple of years that if that walk is a part of the game he's still able to make pitches. That helps minimize damage and keep him in ballgames.''

The Angels tried to mount a late rally against an A's team that was without a closer. Regular closer Huston Street was unavailable with a strained right pectoral-minor muscle and setup man Justin Duchscherer was not used after allowing three runs on four hits in a blown save Thursday.

Darin Erstad delivered a leadoff triple in the ninth inning off reliever Joe Kennedy. It was the 1,500th hit of his career, becoming the fourth Angels player to reach the mark along with Anderson, Tim Salmon and Brian Downing.

Kiko Calero came on to strike out pinch hitter Tim Salmon, but gave up a walk to Casey Kotchman. The game ended when Jeff Mathis struck out with pinch runner Robb Quinlan trying to steal second base.

Quinlan made it into second safely, but was called out because Mathis interfered with Kendall's throw to second base.

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Photo:

Angels reliever J.C. Romero (33) gets a ball from the home-plate umpire as Oakland's Marco Scutaro, left, rounds third base following a two-run home run by Eric Chavez in the seventh inning Friday.

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Box:

ANGELS at OAKLAND

- Doug Padilla