OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Terrence Long's two-run homer off Brendan Donnelly in the sixth inning Thursday gave the Oakland Athletics a 5-3 victory over the Anaheim Angels and sole possession of first place in the American League West.
The Athletics (96-57) captured three of four games from the Angels (95-58) to take the season series, 11-9. As a result, Oakland will win the American League West in a tiebreaker if both teams make the playoffs and finish deadlocked for the division title.
If the Angels had won Thursday, they would have held the tiebreaker advantage on the basis of a better division record.
Tim Hudson (15-9) improved to 8-0 in his last 10 starts and 11-3 lifetime against Anaheim, despite blowing a 3-1 lead.
After the Angels tied it with two runs in the top of the sixth, the Athletics took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning.
David Justice singled with one out off Appier (14-11) before Angels manager Mike Scioscia brought in Donnelly. Mark Ellis lined out, but Long, who was three for 16 lifetime against Appier, golfed a 1-1 pitch over the right field wall.
Ramon Hernandez, who entered the game with a .228 batting average, had a pair of two-out, run-scoring singles for Oakland.
Billy Koch set a club record with his 79th appearance of the season and pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 41st save.
