The Los Angeles Angels came from behind to get a big lead, but then the arson squad took over.
The Los Angeles Angels got their first taste of the West Sacramento baseball experience this season as they lost an 11-10 slugfest to the Athletics, as the Angels came from behind to post a seven-run lead, then saw their ghastly bullpen blow up again to lead the way to another loss.
The A’s dominated early as they got off to a four-run lead in the first three innings off starter Jose Soriano, who struggled with his command in this one. Lawrence Butler started the scoring in the second with a solo home run, and the Athletics got three more in the third, with the rally keyed by doubles frmo Shea Langeliers and Jacob Wilson.
The Angels came back with a vengeance after that, though, putting up a seven spot in the fourth, then getting three more in the fifth to take a 10-4 lead. The fourth inning rally featured home runs by Denzer Guzman, Jose Siri and Zach Neto, while the follow-up in the fifth was all about a three-run bomb from Logan O’Hoppe.
Soriano managed to make it through five innings with a shutout line, and another home run by Nolan Schanuel the next inning extended the Halo lead to 11-4. But the sixth proved to be Soriano’s undoing, as the A’s got a run back with an RBI single by Zack Gelof. The starter’s final line had him giving up four runs on six hits to go with four walks and six strikeouts.
The Angels arson squad took over after that, and it was truly ugly. Mitch Farris was the first to fail as he gave up three runs in two innings, and Chase Silseth surrendered two more in his inning.
Sam Bachman also gave up two more, with the A’s offense coming on home rusn by Wilson, Max Muncy and Jonah Heim, with Heim’s two-run blast off nominal closer Kirby Yates tying the game at 11-11 to send the game to extras.
What happened in the tenth was fairly predictable, at least by Angels standards. The Halos were shut down by Elvis Alvarado as they failed to score their ghost runner, and the A’s finished off their comeback win as Yates walked Henry Bolte, with ghost runner Lawrence Butler then leading a double steal to put both runners in scoring position.
Yates then hit Gelof with a pitch to load the bases, and Sammy Natera came in to complete the free pass parade by walking Nick Kurtz to bring home the winning run.
