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Oakland A’s cruise to series victory with 3-0 win over Angels

By MJ Hurley

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics runs on the field prior to the game against the Texas Rangers at Ring Central Coliseum on September 20, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics runs on the field prior to the game against the Texas Rangers at Ring Central Coliseum on September 20, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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The Oakland A’s finished off their series with the Los Angeles Angels with a 3-0 victory, taking three of the four games.

After an unsettling morning for Major League Baseball, the Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Angels opened up play for the day and finished up a four game series. The A’s took the third game of the series in a 3-0 win which brings their record for the season to a division leading 3-1.

It was another wonderful performance by the Oakland bullpen with starter Chris Bassitt only making it through four innings on 66 pitches. Burch Smith, T.J. McFarland, Yusmeiro Petit, Jake Diekman, and Joakim Soria combined for five innings of scoreless baseball.

Matt Chapman had a stellar day in the kelly green uniforms on Monday. Chapman had three hits, one RBI and raised his season average to .250 for the first time. Although the A’s only totaled five hits, Chapman and Mark Canha were able to produce enough offense to support the Athletics stellar pitching performance.

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The Angels had multiple chances to score, but were unable to convert each time. Having the bases loaded in the fourth inning, a baserunning blunder by Justin Upton and a converted 1-2-3 double play allowed for Chris Bassitt to escape unscathed.

Looking for a chance to rally in the seventh and the eighth, Petit and Diekman did not allow any runs. Petit came in for one out to close out the eight, and although Diekman had a rocky eighth inning, three strikeouts allowed for a clean exit.

After coming over from San Francisco in the first trade with the Giants since 1990, Burch Smith showed exactly why he was on the Opening Day roster with two scoreless innings to bridge the gap between Bassitt and the efficient A’s bullpen.

For the Angels, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani did not look like themselves, with the two sluggers going hitless in seven at-bats and striking out five times. Tommy La Stella was a bright spot for Los Angeles, providing two hits and one walk in the lackluster offensive showing.

After worrying the Oakland faithful following their game two loss on Saturday, the A’s responded with two straight convincing victories over the divisional rival Angels.

Expanded postseason helps A's goals to advance. dark. Next

Wrapping up the first series of the season, the Oakland A’s remain at home for a two game stint against the Colorado Rockies. Daniel Mengden will face off against Antonio Senzatela in the evening matchup starting at 6:40 PM.