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Oakland Athletics Recap 4/13: A’s Lose 5-1

By Melson Varsovia

Apr 13, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics third baseman Danny Valencia (26) is forced out at second as Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons (2) tries to turn a double play in the second inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics third baseman Danny Valencia (26) is forced out at second as Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons (2) tries to turn a double play in the second inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oakland Athletics Recap 4/13: Angels Sweep Oakland, A’s Lose 5-1

5. 102. Final. 1. 96

The Oakland Athletics lost yet again today 5-1 to the Los Angeles Angels. Eric Surkamp pitched in 4 2/3 innings and comes away with the loss as he gave up two runs, striking out only one. Marcus Semien hit a solo home run, his fourth in as many days. The A’s were shut down, attaining only three hits against the tough Los Angeles team.

The A’s pitching struggled mightily today. Eric Surkamp’s two runs allowed were both scored by Mike Trout, and were both hit by Kole Calhoun. Fernando Rodriguez gave up one run and Liam Hendriks allowed two. However, Ryan Dull pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless ball and notched a strikeout. Marc Rzepczynski also rescued the ninth inning for the A’s. Both Dull and Rzepczynski inherited two runners in their appearances and both allowed no score.

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The A’s could simply find no answer offensively. In this series, they were outscored by Anaheim 14-6. This is especially troubling as the A’s faced the latter part of the Angels rotation: neither Garrett Richards, Jered Weaver, nor Andrew Heaney stopped the A’s offense this time around. Can the A’s beat top-of-the-rotation guys? They proved they can when they faced off against Felix Hernandez and shut him down on April 10, but looked worse against Chris Sale on Opening Day. Neither Khris Davis nor Mark Canha were in the lineup at all today, which may help to explain the lack of offense in today’s game, but it is still surprising to see the A’s get totally shut down.

Meanwhile, Oakland’s bullpen is only looking worse and worse, as it gave up three runs today. Hendriks and Rodriguez are being treated as long-relief options, so it is no surprise to see them pitching in a losing affair. But Hendriks’s ERA is now at 10.50 after giving up two runs in one-third of an inning. Rodriguez has been exceptional in not allowing a run until today. Still, his outing today had him giving up one run in two innings while only getting one strikeout. Plan on seeing Bob Melvin rely more on the lights-out Ryan Dull and the surprisingly excellent John Axford for holds, if not saves, in the next few days. The day off tomorrow will help, but the A’s get no relief in facing the 2015 World Series champion Kansas City Royals this weekend.

Next: Oakland Athletics Suffer a Heartbreaking Loss

Following tomorrow’s scheduled day off, the A’s will face Edison Volquez and the Royals on Friday, April 15. First pitch is at 7:05 PM PST.