Oakland Athletics designated hitter Yoenis Cespedes follows through on a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. (PHOTO: US PRESSWIRE)
ANAHEIM, CA - The Oakland Athletics continue to rely on their unheralded young arms.
They've yet to falter.
This time it was rookie A.J. Griffin, who tossed eight scoreless frames in Oakland's 4-1 win over the LA Angels of Anaheim in the third installment of a key four-game set.
The AL wild card-leading A's have won the first three contests of the series and extended their road winning streak to a franchise record-tying 12 consecutive games. They've won six in a row overall.
Eleven of the 18 rookies Oakland has used this season -- which is second in the majors behind the Chicago Cubs (20) -- have been pitchers. Griffin (6-0) became the first starter in Oakland history to open his career 6-0. He fanned six and scattered six hits.
Ervin Santana (8-12) struck out six, but surrendered two runs -- one earned -- on four hits and three walks for the Angels, who had won six in a row coming into the set. The Angels are 3 1/2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees, who are tied atop the AL East, for the second wild-card spot.
The Sports Network