Go for the sweep tomorrow
After two straight games (with an All-star break in between) with thirteen-plus runs scored, Oakland Athletics fans were hoping to see the power surge continue today against the LA Angels. Mark Kotsay called upon Mitch Spence to face the Angels and fellow rookie Jack Kochanowicz.
Miguel Andujar got things started for the A’s with a single off Kochanowicz. JJ Bleday doubled to right field, moving Andujar to third. Brent Rooker then rocked his 22nd home run of the year to give the A’s an early 3-0 lead.
445 feet for Brent Rooker’s 22nd home run of the season pic.twitter.com/DnpKtvxiqX
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) July 20, 2024
The Angels got on the board in the top of the third inning. Jo Adell led off with a walk and stole second. Luis Guillorme struck out swinging but on the dropped ball and throw to first, Adell moved to third. Anthony Rendon drove Adell in with a sacrifice fly to left fielder Miguel Andujar. That tightened the score to 3-1.
With one out in the top of the fourth, Willie Calhoun doubled. He moved to third on Spence’s second wild pitch of the game. Zack Neto walked, putting runners on first and third. But Mickey Moniak lined out to Seth Brown at first to end the threat.
Brent Rooker led off the bottom of the fourth with his second hit of the game, a single to right field. A McCann single sent Rooker to third, and a two out walk to Brett Harris loaded the bases for Max Schuemann. He walked to drive in Rook. Lawrence Butler doubled to clear the bases, but he was thrown out at third stretching a double into a triple. At the end of four, the A’s had a 7-1 lead.
Last week’s AL Player of the Week is staying hot pic.twitter.com/XZRtszlGcG
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) July 20, 2024
Adell and Guillorme both singled to start the fifth inning. Rendon grounded into a double play, but Adell advanced to third. Then Brandon Drury popped out to end the inning. Kenny Rosenberg replaced Jack Kochanowicz in the bottom of the fifth. Miguel Andujar greeted him with a base hit. After quick outs by Bleday and Rooker, Tyler Nevin pinch hit for Seth Brown. Nevin popped out to end the inning.
Taylor Ward walked on four pitches to start the inning for the Halos. Logan O’Hoppe singled to centerfield advancing Ward to second. Zack Neto doubled to left scoring Ward and moving O’Hoppe to third. That would be all for Spence, who was replaced with one out in the top of the sixth by Scott Alexander. Pinch hitter Kevin Pillar flied out left field for the second out. Jo Adell grounded out to end the inning.
Austin Adams replaced Alexander in the top of the seventh inning. After a two-out walk to Drury, he got Taylor Ward to line out to JJ Bleday to end the top half of the inning. Max Schuemann doubled to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Lawrence Butler singled, moving Schuemann to third with no outs. Miguel Andujar drove in the eighth run of the afternoon with a base hit to left. JJ Bleday lined into a double play. After running the count to 3-1, Rooker was intentionally walked, putting runners back on first and third. But Tyler Nevin lined out to end the threat.
Tyler Ferguson entered the game to pitch the top half of the eighth. Ferguson made quick work of the Angels in the eighth. Having thrown only nine pitches in the last inning, Ferguson came back out for the ninth. Jo Adell singled with one down. With two outs, Ferguson struck out Anthony Rendon to end the game. While the A’s did not score in double figures this afternoon, I don’t think anyone will complain about an 8-run barrage. The A’s go for the sweep tomorrow!
