Poor defense leads to A’s fourth loss in a row

ANAHEIM - A day after losing their top starter this season and their everyday right fielder and No. 3 batter, the A’s at times looked a little worse for wear against the Angels on Tuesday.

Oakland fell 5-4, the team’s fourth loss in a row, and the A’s dropped back into last place, alone, as an error by shortstop Marcus Semien led to a three-run homer, the difference in the game.

A costly error by Semien also had opened the door in the seventh for a Cleveland comeback win Friday and the Indians went on to sweep the A’s over the weekend.

With the game tied 2-2 Tuesday and one out in the sixth, Mike Trout walked - the first walk allowed by Sean Manaea in a stretch of 31 1/3 consecutive innings - then Manaea got Albert Pujols to hit a chopper to short.

With Hill and Josh Reddick getting traded to the Dodgers on Monday, utility infielder Tyler Ladendorf, who is a good shortstop, was recalled.

Semien is unlikely to get a break in the next day or two, though - Ladendorf is more likely to start in place of second baseman Jed Lowrie, who is battling a painful toe injury that noticeably affected his movement Tuesday.

In 5 2/3 innings, Manaea allowed six hits and five runs, four earned - only the actual run scored by Pujols wasn’t counted against him.

Oakland’s runs came on solo homers by Khris Davis in the second and Coco Crisp in the fifth, plus a two-run shot by Yonder Alonso in the eighth.

With two months to go, Davis has 27 homers and 69 RBIs, matching his career highs set last season.

All-Star catcher Stephen Vogt hit third in the lineup, the spot usually held by Reddick.