OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 29: Griffin Canning #47 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 29, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Oakland Athletics’ Liam Hendriks pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Sound The gallery will resume in seconds

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Griffin Canning throws against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani bats against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 29: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels talks to Marcus Semien #10 of the Oakland Athletics while on second base during the first inning of their game Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 29, 2019 in Oakland, California. Ohtani scored later in the inning. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)



Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates with Tommy La Stella after both scored on a single by Cesar Puello against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Los Angeles Angels’ Tommy La Stella (9) and Shohei Ohtani (17) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Los Angeles Angels’ Griffin Canning pitches against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Los Angeles Angels’ Cesar Puello (48) hits a two-run single in front of Oakland Athletics catcher Nick Hundley during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani stands in the dugout during a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)



Oakland Athletics Marcus Semien (10) is congratulated by third base coach Matt Williams (4) after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani reacts after striking out against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Oakland Athletics pitcher Daniel Mengden throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 29: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a single in the third inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 29, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani runs down the first base line to reach safely on an error by Oakland Athletics third baseman Matt Chapman during the third inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)



Los Angeles Angels center fielder Brian Goodwin catches a fly ball hit by Oakland Athletics’ Stephen Piscotty during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, right, advances to second base on a ground out by Jonathan Lucroy next to Oakland Athletics’ Jurickson Profar during the third inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 29: Griffin Canning #47 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 29, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Oakland Athletics’ Marcus Semien crosses the plate after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the third inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. At right is umpire Mark Ripperger. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Oakland Athletics’ Jurickson Profar looks down at an infield single by Los Angeles Angels’ Cesar Puello during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)



OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 29: Brian Goodwin #18 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a single that scored a run in the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 29, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Angels’ Brian Goodwin hits an RBI single against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun runs home to score against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun (56) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a run against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 29: Luis Rengifo #4 of the Los Angeles Angels throws the ball to first base as Robbie Grossman #8 of the Oakland Athletics slides in to second base in the first inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 29, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)



Los Angeles Angels’ Cesar Puello hits a two-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Los Angeles Angels’ Cesar Puello, right, is congratulated by third base coach Mike Gallego after hitting a two-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 29: Cesar Puello #48 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates after he hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 29, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Angels’ Cesar Puello (48) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Los Angeles Angels’ Cesar Puello (48) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)



Oakland Athletics’ Matt Olson, right, hits a two-run home run in front of Los Angeles Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 29: Jared Walsh #25 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a single that scored a run in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 29, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 29: Brian Goodwin #18 of the Los Angeles Angels can not catch a home run hit by Mark Canha #20 of the Oakland Athletics in the ninth inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 29, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Oakland Athletics’ Matt Olson, right, celebrates after hitting a two-run home run that scored Marcus Semien (10) against the Los Angeles Angels during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 29: Josh Phegley #19 of the Oakland Athletics hits a sacrifice fly that scored a run to tie the game in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 29, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)



Los Angeles Angels’ Albert Pujols, left, sits in the dugout with Mike Trout during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 29: Jonathan Lucroy #20 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a single that scored two runs in the 11th inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 29, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 29: Tommy La Stella #9 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a single that scored a run in the 11th inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 29, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 29: Cesar Puello #48 of the Los Angeles Angels slides safely into third base in the 11th inning against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on May 29, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

OAKLAND — The Angels won a game that they seemed intent on losing on Wednesday afternoon.

After blowing a four-run lead in the seventh and a two-run lead in the ninth, and after having the potential go-ahead run erased on a baserunning fiasco in the top of the ninth, the Angels nonetheless beat the Oakland A’s 12-7 in 11 innings to win for the fourth time in five games.

“It’s a bend-but-don’t-break thing,” said Kole Calhoun, who was particularly happy the victory could erase his own embarrassing gaffe. “A lot of teams could kind of shut it down after a comeback like they mounted two or three times and we were able to keep fighting. That’s what it’s going to take throughout the season, a team that’s going to play together and today was a good example of that.”

The Angels played without All-Star center fielder Mike Trout, who was still sore after hitting a foul ball off the top of his right foot in Tuesday night’s win. They had a chance to win in more routine fashion than they did. They had a 5-1 lead in the seventh, thanks to Griffin Canning’s strong six innings and four RBIs from Cesar Puello, who returned to the majors for the first time since 2017 and hit his first big league homer.

Alas, that tidy little would-be victory vanished amid a series of meltdowns. Fortunately for the Angels, the A’s had the last meltdown.

The Angels scored five runs in the 11th with just two singles.

They had a batter hit by a pitch, one walked intentionally, two walked unintentionally and one reached when the A’s made an error on a sacrifice attempt. Tommy La Stella and Jonathan Lucroy had the only singles in the inning.

“It was a rollercoaster,” Manager Brad Ausmus said. “We stuck with it. We gave up a couple of leads, but ultimately we got the win, which is a good thing. Every team in baseball has a couple games like this during the season, and it’s nice to walk away with a win, especially on the road.”

The Angels won the last two games to take the series against an Oakland team that had won 10 in a row after beating the Angels on Monday afternoon.

At a few points on Wednesday afternoon, it seemed the Angels could not put away the A’s.

The 5-1 lead vanished because of a rough seventh inning for Justin Anderson, who was charged with two runs. Ty Buttrey threw nine pitches to escape further damage in the seventh, but Ausmus didn’t want to bring him back for the top of the order in the eighth, not after he’d thrown 26 pitches the night before.

“I thought about it, but I’ve got to think about this kid’s health, too,” Ausmus said.

Instead, he called on Luís García, who gave up a game-tying two-run homer to Matt Olson in the eighth.

Not long after that, Calhoun temporarily ruined a promising rally with a baserunning mistake in the top of the ninth. Third baseman Matt Chapman fielded a Brian Goodwin broken-bat bouncer and threw to second, but shortstop Marcus Semien was not on the bag when he caught the ball. Calhoun slid into second, looked up, and saw no one at third. He took a few steps toward third, only to be tagged out by Semien.

“I didn’t know if he had the ball,” Calhoun said. “It was messed up. It was the loneliest feeling you can have on a baseball field. It’s a bad play. It’s me not really keeping my head and knowing where the ball is at. It’s a bad play but those guys came through behind me and got a couple big runs for us.”

Just after Calhoun made the second out, Luís Rengifo and Jared Walsh had hits against All-Star closer Blake Treinen to drive in two runs, giving the Angels a 7-5 lead.

Then Hansel Robles entered and let that get away too. Mark Canha hit a homer and Jurrickson Profar doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly.

Anderson, García and Robles gave up two runs apiece. An Angels bullpen that was a strength for the first month of the season is suddenly looking for consistent work from anyone other than Buttrey.

“There is going to be some ebb and flow to pitchers over the course of the season,” Ausmus said. “They aren’t going to roll through 162 games. I’m still confident in them. If we can get over the hump for a couple guys, I think there’s no reason they won’t return to the form they had earlier in the season.”

Related Articles Why Angels pitching struggled and what needs to be done

Hoornstra: Baseball awards voting deserves less numerical approach in 2020

Patrick Sandoval picks up first big league victory as Angels remain barely alive in postseason chase

Julio Teheran’s disappointing season with the Angels is likely over

Angels get an optimistic glimpse of the future in win over Padres All of that overshadowed what should have been the best feel-good stories of the day.

Canning gave up one run and three hits in six innings, lowering his ERA to 3.06 in his first six starts.

“That’s probably his best start of the year for me,” Lucroy said. “Every pitch he threw, he located. He made a few mistakes. But he gave up three hits against that lineup. I can’t say enough good things about Griff today.”

And Puello, a 28-year-old who has been through seven organizations, had the best day of his brief big league career. He had a two-run single and a two-run homer in his first big league game since 2017. He was also hit by a pitch to start the Angels’ five-run 11th.

“Good guy, super humble,” Calhoun said. “I couldn’t be happier for him. … He’s a good guy and came through today.”