OAK 7, LAA 3: Matt Chapman stays hot as Athletics top Angels
The Oakland Athletics rebounded from Friday’s soul-crushing loss, taking down the Angels 7-3 in Anaheim on Saturday.
The Oakland Athletics, like they did on Friday night, jumped on the Angels early, grabbing three runs off right-hander JC Ramirez in the second inning. Stephen Piscotty scored Matt Chapman on an RBI double to left, and Marcus Semien hit a two-out single to center field which brought two more home.
Ramirez was pulled from the game after just two innings, allowing three runs and five walks. RHP Akeel Morris took over for the Angels and immediately issued a walk of his own. The Angels walked 10 batters tonight, an erratic display of pitching and something the A’s took advantage of.
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The Athletics have their own pitching issues this season, but the Angels aren’t much better. In fact, they’ve gone to the bullpen more than any other team in the majors (based on stats prior to the game). Oakland slot in at third, per Baseball Reference.
Andrew Triggs had a no-hitter going through three innings, but a bloop-single by Zack Cozart in the fourth brought that to a halt, before Justin Upton hit a two-run shot to right center field to get the Angels on the board.
Triggs went 5 2/3 innings tonight, allowing four hits, two runs and two walks with six strikeouts. Triggs’ slider was effective yet again and he used his two-seamer to keep the Angels’ hitters guessing.
Jed Lowrie hit his second homer and as many days to extend Oakland’s lead to 4-2 in the fifth inning. He finished the game 1-for-4 and struck out three times, though, so it wasn’t all good news for Lowrie. Here’s his home run:
The Athletics added two runs in the eighth inning and one run in the ninth to put away the Angels. RHP Blake Treinen pitched two scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four. Treinen certainly gave fans a scare in the ninth by giving up a couple of base hits, but he managed to clamp down and seal the deal for Oakland.
Chapman stays hot:
Matt Chapman extended his career-high hitting streak to nine games with an RBI triple in the eighth inning. Upton lost the ball in the lights and the A’s reaped the rewards of his mishap. In addition to his hitting streak, Chapman has also reached base in all 10 games this season.
He finished the game 1-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored, in addition to his RBI triple. Chapman is hitting .405 on the season.
Offense is rolling of late:
The Athletics’ offense, after an inconsistent start to the season, has come to life recently, scoring 25 runs over their past four games; 16 of those 25 runs have come in the last two games alone.
Next: A’s call up top prospect Franklin Barreto
Everyone in the A’s lineup reached base at least once tonight, and everyone but Khris Davis and Jake Smolinski recorded a hit. Oakland came into the season with what many experts were calling an underrated batting lineup, and after a slow start they’re are finally coming into their own.