The Los Angeles Angels couldn't make a six-run lead hold up against the Athletics.
The Los Angeles Angels lost a 9-7 slugfest to the A’s in West Sacramento as they built a big early lead, only to suffer another bullpen meltdown that dropped them further into the basement in the AL West.
The bandbox ballpark played a role in this loss, but the Angels know their losing formula and they have it down pat regardless of the setting. The Halos built a 6–0 lead going into the A’s half of the sixth, but the A’s then scored nine straight runs to come from behind and get the win.
The key to the offense early was Denzer Guzman, who drove home a run with a groundout in the first, then hit a three-run homer in the third inning. Vaughn Grissom chipped in with an RBI single in the second and another in the sixth, and it looked like the Angels were in good shape.
Starter Yusei Kikuchi pitched well in this game, especially considering the setting. He gave up two runs on seven hits to go with a walk and two strikeouts, and that should have been more than good enough to get a win.
Enter the Angels bullpen. Luke Murphy and Joes Fermin combined to help the A’s get five runs through the sixth and seventh, with two charged to Kikuchi and Fermin taking the hit for the other three. Sam Bachman made an ugly return to the Halos pen in the seventh and eighth as he was charged with three runs, with Blake Weiman got credit for the final run.
The Angels got just one run after they build up the big lead, with that one coming on an infield single by Christian Moore in the ninth during the Halos' token rally.
The A’s, meanwhile, had plenty of offensive heroes. Shea Langeliers and Lawrence Butler both had three-hit nights, and pinch-hitter Carlos Cortes had an RBI triple and a two-run homer after he entered the game. Zack Gelof also homered during the Athletics’ late scoring spree.
Guzman wound up with four RBIs for the Angels, and Grissom and Mike Trout both had three-hit nights. Jose Siri, Wade Meckler and Moore had two hits apiece in a ballpark that’s built for stats padding.
The loss ensured that the Angels will stay in the AL West basement through the second game of their two-game set against the A’s, and it was the 97th loss of the season as they close in on the hundred mark.
