A’s can’t complete sweep of Angels, allow five runs in disastrous eighth inning

OAKLAND — With the A’s leading by three runs heading into the top of the eighth inning, manager Mark Kotsay began to employ a familiar formula: Lucas Erceg for the eighth, All-Star Mason Miller for the ninth.

Miller never took the mound. And it wasn’t because Oakland tacked on insurance runs.

Erceg failed to retire any of the four batters that he faced, setting the stage for the Angels’ (42-57) game-altering five-run eighth inning, a frame that resulted in the A’s (39-62) losing 8-5, on Sunday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum.