Angels start slow, finish fast in 8-4 loss to A’s

KEY MOMENT: Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson had a chance to minimize damage in the first inning, even after walking four batters, including two with the bases loaded. But he grooved a full-count pitch to Geovany Soto, who ripped it to center field for a two-run single and a 4-0 A’s lead. Third baseman David Freese’s throwing error on Nick Punto’s ensuing grounder allowed two more runs to score. The A’s maintained their hold on the top American League wild-card spot, a game ahead of Kansas City and three games ahead of Seattle.

AT THE PLATE: Albert Pujols hit a three-run homer to left, his 28th of the season, off reliever Evan Scribner to pull the Angels to within 8-4 in the eighth. The slugger has 520 career homers and 1,602 runs batted in. His next homer will tie Ted Williams, Willie McCovery and Frank Thomas for 18th on baseball’s all-time list. Kole Calhoun doubled and scored on Mike Trout’s sacrifice fly in the first. Stephen Vogt’s two-run single off Angels reliever Michael Roth in the seventh pushed Oakland’s lead to 8-1.

ON THE MOUND: Wilson was charged with six runs — four earned— in two-thirds of an inning, the shortest non-weather-related start of his career. A’s right-hander Jeff Samardzija, who was 1-2 despite a 1.66 earned-run average in his previous five starts, allowed one unearned run and five hits in seven innings to improve to 5-5. Drew Rucinski (2 1/3 scoreless innings) and Cam Bedrosian (two hitless innings) shined in relief for the Angels.

REHAB REPORT: Josh Hamilton, who has missed 16 of 17 games because of right shoulder, chest and rib-cage injuries, hit off a tee on Monday, and Manager Mike Scioscia said the left fielder “actually feels pretty good.” But Hamilton won’t return until Friday at the earliest. … Second baseman Howie Kendrick, pulled from Sunday’s game because of a tight left hamstring, sat out Monday night’s game but said he could have played. … Outfielder Collin Cowgill returned to the lineup after missing four games because of a sore left groin.

UP NEXT: Left-hander Wade LeBlanc (0-1, 5.24 ERA) will oppose Oakland right-hander Sonny Gray (13-9, 3.28 ERA) at the Oakland Coliseum on Tuesday at 7 p.m. On the air: TV: FS West. Radio: 710, 830, 1330.