The Athletics took on the Los Angeles Angels, looking to win their third straight game and wrap up this interdivisional series victory with a game to spare. Much like the last time these two pitchers squared off, the Angels scored multiple late runs to break a tie game and earn a 5-2 victory. The A’s finished the night 1-8 with RISP, lost another player to injury and saw Max Muncy’s struggles at third base prove costly once again.
Heim Time!
With one out in the second, A’s catcher Jonah Heim sent the first pitch he saw from Detmers 445 feet to center field. His seventh home run of the season, a birthday blast, put the visitors ahead 1-0 after the first two innings of this matchup.
Defense!
In the bottom of the third inning, A’s left fielder Tyler Soderstrom exited the game with left hip soreness. Right fielder Colby Thomas switched to left field, while Lawrence Butler entered to play right. The ball immediately found Thomas in his new position. He made a nice diving catch on a sinking line drive for the third out of the inning.
A’s Waste Chance to Increase Lead
Athletics’ designated hitter Shea Langeliers led off the fourth by drawing a walk. Butler lined a single to left, advancing Langeliers 90 feet. The rally stopped there as Detmers escaped the jam by retiring the next three hitters he faced. The Angels southpaw recorded eight strikeouts through his first four innings of work.
Angels Take the Lead
Perkins walked the first batter he faced in the fourth inning. Then Jorge Soler singled, putting runners on second and third with no outs.
With one out, Angels’ right fielder Jo Adell hit a ball down the left field line that Thomas misplayed, allowing Adell to reach third base and driving in both runners to give the Angels a 2-1 lead. Perkins got out of the inning without allowing any more runs as the Angels failed to bring Adell home.
Detmers quickly got his team back to the plate, throwing a seven-pitch fifth inning to maintain the hosts’ one-run advantage. Perkins matched his counterpart, keeping his team’s deficit at one.
Thomas Redeems Himself
Nick Kurtz singled and then Butler walked to give the Athletics two base runners with one out in the sixth. Thomas hit a two-out RBI single to left, scoring Kurtz to tie the game at two and end Detmers’ outing. The game-tying hit snapped Thomas’ 0-for-19 skid.
Angels’ right-handed reliever Chase Silseth relieved Detmers. He struck out Muncy to end the inning, stranding the two inherited runners and keeping the game tied.
Perkins’ night was done after five innings. He allowed two runs on four hits and one walk, while recording five strikeouts and inducing six flyouts in what was arguably his best outing as a starter this season. Right-hander Justin Sterner entered out of the Athletics’ bullpen and pitched a scoreless sixth inning, wiggling out of some two-out trouble.
Muncy Having A Bad Night
The Angels took the lead in the bottom of the seventh against A’s reliever Geoff Hartlieb. With two outs and a runner on third, Los Angeles third baseman Denver Guzman hit a ground ball that rolled under his counterpart Muncy’s glove and into left field. Josh Lowe scored the go-ahead run on what should have been the third out of the inning.
Not the A’s Night
Down 3-2, the A’s looked to mount another comeback in the eighth inning. They put two runners on with one out against Angels hard-throwing reliever Sam Bachman. Heim walked to load the bases, putting the tying run 90 feet away.
Bachman kept his team in the lead by striking out pinch-hitter Carlos Cortes before retiring Muncy to end the threat. The inning may have played out differently if Thomas had taken the at-bat instead of the slumping Cortes.
The Athletics failure to capitalize on that prime scoring opportunity kept the momentum firmly in the Angels’ dugout. The hosts added insurance runs in the eighth. Infielder Oswald Peraza hit a one-out RBI single off A’s left-hander Matt Krook. Logan O’Hoppe followed with an RBI single up the middle to extend his team’s lead to 5-2.
Angels closer Kirby Yates tossed a one-two-three ninth inning to earn his second save of the season and set up the rubber match tomorrow afternoon.
Seeking the series win, the Athletics will turn to right-hander Aaron Civale, who will make his 14th start of the season and third since returning from the injured list. The Angels will counter with young left-hander Sam Aldegheri, who is 2-3 with a 5.47 ERA through his first seven appearances, including four starts, this season.
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