Oakland 3, LA Angels 1

Athletics 3, Angels 1: Brandon Moss and Cliff Pennington homered and Jarrod Parker pitched seven strong innings as visiting Oakland won its fourth straight game and snapped Los Angeles’ six-game winning streak.

Parker (10-8) allowed one run and three hits as the Athletics moved within three games of the idle Texas Rangers in the American League West and extended their hold on the top wild card spot to three games over third-place Tampa Bay.

Los Angeles dropped 1 1/2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the second wild-card spot.

Ryan Cook pitched a scoreless eighth and Grant Balfour struck out two in a flawless ninth for his 17th save in 19 opportunities as Oakland earned its 10th straight road victory by prevailing in the opener of the pivotal four-game series.

Moss launched a solo shot off Dan Haren (10-11) leading off the fifth to give the Athletics a 2-1 lead. Pennington led off the sixth with a homer over the right-center field fence.

Oakland struck in the first when Coco Crisp tripled and scored on Seth Smith’s infield out.   

The Angels knotted the contest in the third when Mike Trout walked and scored on Torii Hunter’s double down the right-field line.

Haren allowed three runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Oakland pitcher Brandon McCarthy is continuing his recovery after being hit in the head by a line drive from Los Angeles SS Erick Aybar on  Wednesday. McCarthy could be released from the hospital later this week. … Angels ace Jered Weaver (biceps tendinitis) will pitch Thursday after missing his last start. … Pennington is batting .483 (14-for-29) over his last nine games. … Trout stole his major league-leading 45th base.

• LA Angels will play their next game at home against Oakland. The Angels have a W/L % of .538 after a win and .556 after a loss.
• Oakland will play their next game on the road against LA Angels. The Athletics have a W/L % of .620 after a win and .508 after a loss.