Angels Fall Farther Back After Loss to A’s

Scott Brosius doubled twice and drove in three runs Thursday to lead Oakland to a 7-3 victory over Anaheim, preventing the Angels from completing a 12-game season sweep of the Athletics.

The loss ensured the New York Yankees at least a tie for a playoff spot. Their magic number for eliminating the Angels from postseason contention is one.

The Angels began the day five games behind Seattle in the AL West.

Brosius and Ben Grieve each doubled home a pair of runs during a five-run fifth inning against Jason Dickson (13-8).

Dave Telgheder (4-5), showing signs that he’s fully recovered from a strained right elbow that sidelined him for much of July and August, limited Anaheim to four hits and one run over five innings.

Oakland reliever Buddy Groom gave up one run in the sixth, Billy Taylor allowed an unearned run in the eighth and T.J. Mathews pitched the ninth.

Dickson, who shut out the A’s on one hit until they jumped on him in the fifth, gave up five runs on seven hits in 4 2-3 innings.

Scott Spiezio started Oakland’s fifth-inning rally with a one-out single. Brent Mayne followed with a single, then Brosius doubled them both home. After Jason McDonald’s two-out RBI single made it 3-1, Dave Magadan singled and Grieve hit his two-run double to chase Dickson.

After Anaheim closed to 5-3 in the eighth, Brosius doubled home one run and Miguel Tejada singled in another in the ninth.

Anaheim pulled within 5-2 in the sixth on Luis Alicea’s RBI double, a high chopper that bounced high over Brosius’ glove at third base. Tim Salmon narrowed the deficit in the eighth when he doubled, then scored on Tejada’s throwing error from shortstop. Tejada fielded Dave Hollins’ grounder and tried to nail Salmon at third, but Salmon kicked the ball out of Brosius’ glove and the ball rolled into the Anaheim dugout.

The Angels scored in the third after Gary DiSarcina hit a ground-rule double to straightaway enter, with McDonald slow to get started back on the ball. DiSarcina went to third on a short wild pitch and continued home when Mayne, who had blocked the ball behind the plate, threw wildly to third.