Angels struggle in 7-1 loss to Athletics

KEY MOMENT: With Yoenis Cespedes at second base in the sixth inning, Brandon Moss hit a dribbler to the right of Angels starter Jered Weaver. But with Weaver’s delivery pulling his body to his left, Moss’ soft hit went for an infield single and Cespedes reached third base. Cespedes then scored on Jed Lowrie’s sacrifice fly, Stephen Vogt followed with a two-run home run to give Oakland a 4-1 lead and Weaver was lifted from the game.

ON THE MOUND: Weaver (7-5) allowed the four runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings, while striking out five and walking two. He threw 104 pitches. Reliever Cory Rasmus gave up run-scoring singles to Coco Crisp and Cespedes in the ninth inning and Rasmus also made a throwing error that allowed another run to score.

AT THE PLATE: Mike Trout doubled in the fourth inning against Oakland starter Tommy Milone (4-3) and, one out later, he scored when Josh Hamilton lined a double off the glove of Moss, the Athletics’ first baseman. Oakland scored its first run in the third inning when Crisp doubled and scored on Cespedes’ single.

ON THE FIELD: Each team’s center fielder made leaping catches at the top of the fence to rob the other club of an apparent home run. Trout caught a deep fly ball hit by Cespedes in the first inning, and Crisp caught Hamilton’s drive in the second inning. Hamilton’s ball looked so certain to leave the park that Angel Stadium prematurely started its home-run fireworks.

EXTRA BASES: Albert Pujols made a questionable running decision in the sixth inning. With the Angels down three runs and the cleanup batter Hamilton on deck, Pujols doubled into the left-field corner. After Cespedes bobbled the ball, Pujols tried to reach third base and Cespedes easily threw out Pujols at third base.

DRAFT SIGNINGS: The Angeles said they signed 14 of their 40 selections in this year’s amateur draft to minor league contracts, including pitchers Jeremy Rhoades, Jake Jewell, Greg Mahle and Austin Robichaux and outfielders Bo Way, Caleb Adams and Tyler Palmer; infielders Jake Yacinich and Andrew Daniel, and catcher Eason Spivey.

UP NEXT: The Angels, off Thursday, open a three-game interleague series with the Braves in Atlanta on Friday, with C.J. Wilson (7-5, 3.32 ERA) facing Aaron Harang (4-5, 3.33 ERA) at 4:30 p.m. PDT. TV: FS West. Radio: 830, 1330.