Kevin Pillar capped a five-run eighth inning with a tiebreaking two-run double and the Los Angeles Angels secured their first victory at Oakland this season with an 8-5 win over the Athletics on Sunday afternoon.
Having returned from the All-Star break with losses on Friday and Saturday, the Angels were six outs away from suffering their second three-game sweep in Oakland of the month when they trailed 5-2 entering the eighth.
But with A’s All-Star closer Mason Miller never warming up, the Angels unloaded on Oakland relievers Lucas Erceg and Scott Alexander to flip the game on its head. Six of the first seven Los Angeles batters of the eighth reached base without making an out on four hits, a walk and a hit by pitch.
Singles by Logan O’Hoppe and Zach Neto off Erceg (2-3) set the stage for the rally, which began when Brandon Drury was hit by a pitch and Jo Adell drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 5-3.
A pinch-hit RBI single by Nolan Schanuel and a run-scoring fielder’s choice by Anthony Rendon tied the score before Pillar sent his double off the left field fence, giving the visitors the lead for good.
Relievers Luis Garcia (4-1) and Carlos Estevez took it from there, with Estevez picking up his 18th save after the visitors tacked on a run in the top of the ninth on a Michel Otanez wild pitch.
Miguel Andujar singled twice and homered to help Oakland take a 5-2 lead. His fourth homer of the year broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth.
Neither starting pitcher got a decision.
Oakland’s Joey Estes left with a one-run lead after allowing two runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out four. Angels right-hander Carson Fulmer was charged with three runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three.
O’Hoppe, who scored twice, joined Neto, Schanuel, Rendon and Taylor Ward with two hits apiece for the Angels. Mickey Moniak hit a solo home run, his sixth homer of the year, to pull Los Angeles even at 2-2 in the fifth.
Lawrence Butler doubled, singled and scored twice for the A’s, who entered Sunday on a three-game winning streak.
–Field Level Media
