Athletics 9, Angels 8: George Kottaras and Chris Carter slammed two-run home runs and host Oakland withstood five homers from Los Angeles to win the rubber game of the series.

Rookie Yoenis Cespedes had a two-run, go-ahead single in a five-run sixth inning to lift the Athletics 1 1/2 games in front of the Angels in the AL wild card race.

Coco Crisp added a pair of hits and an RBI double for Oakland, which rebounded to score 19 runs in the last two games after being blanked in the series opener.

Pat Neshek (1-0) retired the only batter he faced for his first win since March 31, 2011, and Grant Balfour and Sean Doolittle worked one inning apiece. Ryan Cook allowed two runs in the ninth before securing his 12th save.

Kendrys Morales clubbed a pair of homers and Chris Iannetta, Torii Hunter and Mark Trumbo added solo shots for Los Angeles, which lost for the sixth time in eight games and finished 4-6 on the 10-game road trip.

LaTroy Hawkins (2-3) was battered for three runs on five hits in relief of starter Zack Greinke, capping a miserable road swing in which the Angels' beleaguered bullpen blew four saves, had five losses and surrendered 11 homers.

Athletics rookie Dan Straily was torched for five runs on eight eights, including four homers, in 4 2/3 innings. Greinke lasted five innings, giving up four runs on six hits and a season-high five walks.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Los Angeles dropped to 1-43 when trailing after seven innings. ... Cespedes snapped an eight-game RBI drought. He has driven in 56 runs in 78 games. ... Trumbo's homer was his 29th, matching his total from a year ago. The five homers gave the Angels 23 on the road trip. ... Athletics RHP Brandon McCarthy threw a 25-pitch bullpen session and will start the opener of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Friday night. The Angels get a day off before opening a 10-game homestand against Seattle.