Henderson Leads A’s Past Angels : Baseball: Only one game separates the teams in race to avoid last place in AL West after Oakland’s 7-2 victory.

Dave Henderson hit his first grand slam in 11 years and Miguel Jimenez won his first major league decision as the Oakland Athletics beat the Angels, 7-2, Friday night.

It was the Angels’ sixth consecutive loss.

Oakland, attempting to avoid a last-place finish in the American League West, closed within one game of the sixth-place Angels.

Henderson’s only previous grand slam was Aug. 22, 1982, when he was with Seattle and playing against Milwaukee. His home run on Friday, his 20th this season, came in the third inning off Mark Holzemer (0-3) and gave Oakland a 5-0 lead.

Jimenez, making his fourth major league start, gave up one run and three hits in six innings, walked five and struck out one. Roger Smithberg pitched three innings for his third save.

Holzemer gave up six runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Troy Neel’s run-scoring single put Oakland ahead in the first. After Henderson’s homer, Greg Myers’ passed ball with Henry Mercedes on third made in 6-0 in the fourth.

Stan Javier hit a run-scoring single in the fifth, but Darryl’s Scott’s wild pitch with Scott Lydy on third made it 7-1 in the bottom of the inning.

J.T. Snow hit his 15th homer in the eighth.

Bob Boone managed for Oakland while Tony La Russa began serving a three-game suspension.