Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Stephen Vogt smacked a three-run homer and
the Oakland Athletics defeated the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 6-3 in the
opener of a four-game set.
Marcus Semien cracked a solo shot for the A’s, who had dropped three of their
last four games coming in.
Dan Otero (1-1) struck out four over four scoreless innings to pick up the
win, while Tyler Clippard blanked the Angels in the ninth to notch his first
save.
Albert Pujols went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for the Angels, who
have lost three straight.
Neither starter finished the fourth inning. The Angels’ Matt Shoemaker (2-1)
allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks over three-plus innings, while
the A’s Kevin Graveman surrendered three runs — two earned — on four hits
and three walks over three-plus frames.
The A’s trailed 2-1 before plating three runs in the third to go in front.
Sam Fuld ripped a leadoff double down the left-field line and Mark Canha
singled before Vogt launched an 0-2 hanging slider into the seats in right for
a 4-2 Oakland advantage.
The Angels got a run back in the home half. Mike Trout reached on a fielding
error following a grounder to shortstop and stole second prior to coming home
on an Pujols single to left.
Oakland, though, answered back in the fourth when Semien atoned for his
mistake by belting a leadoff shot to left for a 5-3 Oakland margin.
Fuld’s sacrifice fly in the ninth provided some insurance, extending the
cushion to 6-3.
Earlier, Ike Davis’ sac fly opened the scoring for Oakland in the first, but
the Angels countered with David Freese’s two-out, two-run base hit in their
first at-bat.
Game Notes
Oakland was 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position, while the Angels
finished 2-for-11 … Trout’s steal was his third of the season … Vogt has
12 RBI on the year.
