In an exhilarating game at what might be the Angels' last appearance at the Coliseum, Kevin Pillar's two-run double in the eighth inning ignited a rally against Oakland’s bullpen. This exciting turn of events led the Los Angeles Angels to a thrilling 8-5 victory over the Athletics on Sunday. Logan O'Hoppe set the stage for the decisive inning with a single, followed by Nolan Schanuel, who came in as a pinch hitter and knocked in an RBI single. Jo Adell added to the momentum with a bases-loaded walk from Lucas Erceg (2-3), helping the Angels break their franchise-long eight-game losing streak at the Coliseum, a streak stretching back to early last season.
The Angels' final scheduled trip to Oakland was witnessed by an announced crowd of 10,380. This marks the end of an era, as the A’s are set to relocate to Sacramento for the next three years before moving to Las Vegas by 2028. This nostalgic moment reminded fans of when the Angels clinched the AL West titles in 2004 and 2005 at the same venue.
Ron Washington, the Angels' manager and former A's third base and infield coach, shared his sentiments about the Coliseum. “There’s so much that has been going on in this place. I’m going to certainly miss it as a guy that’s been a coach here, as a guy that watched a lot of young players grow here, and now as a guy that came back and managed here,” Washington reflected. “The crowd is still the same, the people here still love the Oakland A’s, and it’s just a sad thing that things are about to change. In life, there are changes.”
Despite a go-ahead home run from Miguel Andujar in the fifth inning, which had given the A's the lead, the Angels mounted a comeback. Rookie right-hander Joey Estes had the A's in a strong position to win back-to-back starts for the first time this year. He pitched well, striking out four and walking two, allowing two earned runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. However, their three-game winning streak came to an end.
Earlier in the game, JJ Bleday and Brent Rooker sparked the A's offense with consecutive two-out RBI doubles in the third inning. Lawrence Butler also doubled in that inning to get things rolling for Oakland. The Angels responded with a sacrifice fly from Brandon Drury in the fourth and a game-tying home run by Mickey Moniak in the fifth.
Andujar's fourth homer of the season ended the night for Angels’ righty Carson Fulmer, who was replaced by Hunter Strickland. This back-and-forth game kept fans on the edge of their seats, showcasing the unpredictable nature of baseball.
TRAINER'S ROOM UPDATES:
Angels:
- OF Mike Trout (knee) faced live pitching and did extensive defensive work in the outfield at the team’s spring training facility in Arizona. "He had a good time, he’s biting at the bit," Washington noted. Trout is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake City on Monday.
- 1B Nolan Schanuel, who was held out of the starting lineup due to tightness in his left calf, made a late appearance in the game.
- RHP Griffin Canning (elbow) threw a bullpen session after leaving Friday’s start in the fourth inning as a precaution.
Athletics:
- SS Jacob Wilson went on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Saturday with a strained left hamstring, which he sustained running the bases in his major league debut on Friday. His return timeline is currently uncertain.
- Reliever Luis Medina will seek a second opinion on his sprained pitching elbow, which has damage to the UCL, to determine whether he needs surgery.
- RHP Ross Stripling, recovering from a strained pitching elbow, will throw a bullpen session on Monday or Tuesday following his five-inning rehab start with Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.
- INF Abraham Toro was reinstated from the injured list and started at third base.
Looking ahead, LHP Tyler Anderson (8-8, 2.97 ERA) is set to take the mound for the Angels in their series opener on Monday at Seattle. The Athletics will begin a three-game home series with the Houston Astros, sending LHP Hogan Harris (1-3, 3.40 ERA) to the mound against Astros' RHP Spencer Arrighetti (4-7, 5.63 ERA).
In conclusion, the Angels' victory over the A's was a blend of nostalgia and excitement, marking the end of an era at the Coliseum and highlighting the unpredictable and thrilling nature of baseball. Fans can look forward to the upcoming matchups and the return of key players like Mike Trout as the season progresses.
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