ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Howie Kendrick drove in Albert Pujols with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, and the Los Angeles Angels opened a two-game lead atop the major league standings with a 4-3 victory Thursday night over the Oakland Athletics, who finished the game under protest over a ninth-inning obstruction call. Josh Hamilton had a 10th-inning single as the Angels won the opener in a four-game series between the AL West clubs who hold the majors two best records. Pujols drew a leadoff walk from Ryan Cook (1-2) in the 10th, and Hamilton moved him to third with a bouncing hit up the middle. Kendricks long fly to right drove in the slow-footed Pujols, setting off a playoff-worthy celebration by the Angels, who have won 12 of 16. Fernando Salas (5-0) pitched a perfect 10th for the Angels. He has retired 38 of his last 41 batters. Oakland protested the game after Erick Aybar hit a short chopper up the first-base line to open the ninth. He ran into Dan Otero as the pitcher fielded it and bumped into first baseman Brandon Moss. Home plate umpire Greg Gibson immediately awarded first base to Aybar, prompting a lengthy argument from As manager Bob Melvin. The Angels then loaded the bases with one out, but Kole Calhoun popped up and Mike Trout grounded to third against Cook. Sonny Gray pitched seven innings of six-hit ball for Oakland, but left without a decision for the first time in 11 starts. C.J. Wilson yielded seven hits and blew a three-run lead while pitching into the sixth inning for the Angels. Gordon Beckham had an early two-run single for the Angels, but Oakland pulled within 3-2 in the fifth. Josh Donaldson led off the sixth with his 26th homer, but Angels reliever Mike Morin struck out pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt with the bases loaded to preserve the tie. The As took two of three from the Angels at the Coliseum last week. The clubs also begin the final week of the regular season with a three-game series in Oakland. TRAINERS ROOM Athletics: SS Jed Lowrie took live batting practice for the first time since breaking his right index finger. Angels: Reliever Joe Thatchers sprained left ankle still isnt ready for a rehab assignment. UP NEXT Athletics: Jon Lester (13-8, 2.53 ERA) held the Angels to five hits and a run over seven innings in a no-decision last weekend. Angels: Jered Weaver (14-7, 3.72 ERA) looks to secure the fourth 15-win season of his career. Swell Drink Bottles NZ . A rainy day saw the former champion Djokovic handle 14th-seeded Frenchman Jo- Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) under the roof on the famed Centre Court. Swell Bottle NZ . -- The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets will forever be tied together for making the same spectacular misjudgment on budding NBA sensation Jeremy Lin. http://www.swellwaterbottlenz.com/swell-spectrum-bottle.html . The Redblacks are taking on the Edmonton Eskimos in their second regular season game Friday night. Catch the game live on TSN as the back end of a doubleheader starting at 10pm et/7pm pt. Swell Bottle Brush NZ . But luckily for the Canadian squad, one goal was all it needed. Winnipegs Sophie Schmidt scored the winner off a Diana Matheson corner kick to seal Canadas third-place spot in the Torneio Internacional de Futebol Feminino in Brazil on Sunday. Swell NZ . Team spokesman Donald Beauchamp said there was no new information on the 80-year-old Hall of Famers condition. The family has requested privacy.The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will honour the most successful head coach in Bomber history when they unveil a bronze statue of "Bud" Grant outside of Investors Group Field this October. Grant coached the Bombers for a decade, from 1957 until 1966, winning four Grey Cups in that time and one CFL Coach of the Year award, before heading south to coach the NFLs Minnesota Vikings. He is the third winningest coach in all of professional football with 290 wins in the NFL and CFL combined; he is a CFL Hall of Famer and a Pro Football Hall of Famer. "The statue of Bud Grant not only honours a man who made a tremendous impact on our Football Club during his time here, but it also symbolizes the many dedicated, talented men who have coached and played for this team over the years," said Blue Bombers President and CEO Wade Milller.dddddddddddd The Bud Grant statue will be erected outside the Bomber Store at the southwest corner of Investors Group Field, just off Ken Ploen Way. "I certainly am unexpectedly honoured by something like this. After so many years, its quite a tribute, and I look forward to being there," said Grant, reached at his office in Minnesota. The six-foot tall, bronze statue will sit on a three-foot base with an inscription detailing Grants accomplishments in football. Grant first played "Offensive End" for the Blue Bombers from 1953-1956 before being hired by the team at the young age of 29 to be Head Coach. Prior to signing with the Bombers, he played one year for the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL. At 86 years old, Grant still maintains an office with the Vikings in Minnesota. ' ' '