The Los Angeles Angels couldn't build on the momentum from the wild walk-off win in the series opener against the Athletics, losing 14-6 in Game 2 of the four-game set.
The Los Angeles Angels failed to build upon its wacky 2-1 walk-off win in the series opener against the Athletics, losing to the A’s 14-6 in blowout fashion Tuesday night.
The Angels ran into trouble in the third inning, as the Athletics put up a six-spot and batted around to take a 6-0 lead. Angels center fielder Mike Trout hit his 12th home run of the season in the bottom half of the inning to cut the deficit to five runs.
Los Angeles strung together a three-run inning in the fourth, but it was all Athletics after the team lost a no-hitter and the game in Game 1. The offense took over, with first baseman Nick Kurtz leading the charge with five RBI. Right fielder Brent Rooker and third baseman Zack Gelof hit home runs and drove in three runs apiece as well.
A’s lefty Jacob Lopez lasted 3.2 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts, yet he outdueled Angels lefty Reid Detmers, who pitched two more innings.
Detmers threw 5.2 innings but allowed eight runs on eight hits and two walks while fanning eight batters, settling for his fifth loss of the season. He is racking up the strikeouts (61, tied-14th) but is allowing a lot of traffic and his ERA now sits at 5.07.
Game 3 of this four-game series will feature a pitching matchup between Athletics righty Aaron Civale and Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz.
Civale has been excellent since signing with the A’s in the offseason, rewarding his club with a 5-1 record, 2.70 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 35 strikeouts in nine starts (46.2 innings). His last time out was against the San Francisco Giants, and the 30-year-old veteran allowed two solo home runs, six hits and a walk while striking out two to earn his fifth win of the season.
Civale has allowed more than three runs just one time, giving the Athletics length and stability. He will square off against Kochanowicz, who has been sharp for most of the season except for his last two times out.
Kochanowicz is 2-3 with a 4.56 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 34 strikeouts through nine starts (51.1 innings), and his ERA ballooned after facing the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers.
First, the Blue Jays tagged him for seven runs (six earned), nine hits and two walks without striking out in four innings. Then, the Dodgers got him for six runs on seven hits and two walks while punching out four times in his last outing.
Kochanowicz has been huge for the starting rotation but he must channel the pitcher he was before his two starts against the 2025 World Series participants.
First pitch is at 6:38 p.m. PDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.
