by Jerry Feitelberg

AP photo: Fear the Beard the LA Angels Matt Shoemaker makes work of the Oakland A’s and did wonders for lowering his 18.00 ERA with a win over the A’s on Wednesday at the Oakland Coliseum

OAKLAND–The A’s entered the game with the Angels hoping to rebound from Tuesday night’s loss and get a much-needed win. That, however, did not happen as the Angels defeated the A’s 5-1 to sweep the three-game series. The Angels starter, Matt Shoemaker, entered the game with an ERA of 18.00, but he stopped the A’s cold. He went six innings and allowed just one hit. Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia used four more pitchers who allowed just two more hits. The A’s big blow was a home run by Marcus Semien that averted a shutout. Eric Surkamp pitched okay, and he was a bit wild as he walked four, hit a batter and uncorked a wild pitch. He threw ninety-six pitches in just four and 2/3rds innings of work. He left the game trailing 2-0, and he absorbed his first loss of the year.

The Angels drew first blood in the top of the third inning. Mike Trout singled to lead off the frame. He stole second to get into scoring position. Surkamp retired Albert Pujols and C.J.Cron but was not able to retire Kole Calhoun. Calhoun singled to right to drive in Trout.

In the top of the fifth, it was the Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun show again. Trout led off with a double to left. He advanced to third on an Eric Surkamp wild pitch and scored on a single off the bat of Kole Calhoun. A’s trail 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth. The Angels’ starter Matt Shoemaker has been masterful allowing the A’s just one hit through the first five innings of play.

The Angels scored another run in the top of the eighth. That man, Kole Calhoun, continued to torment the A’s. Calhoun doubled to left and then scored on a single by Andrelton Simmons to increase the lead to three. Calhoun has three hits and two RBIs to lead the Halos attack. The A’s Marcus Semien led off the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run to make it a 3-1 game. It was just the second hit of the game for Oakland. For Semien, it was his fourth home run of the year. He leads the A’s in that department.

The Angels put the game away in the ninth. With one out, former Athletic Craig Gentry singled. Mike Trout followed with his third of the afternoon to put men on at first and second. They advanced to second and third on a Liam Hendricks’ wild pitch. Albert Pujols singled to drive in both runners.  Angels in the driver’s seat 5-1 as the game heads into the bottom of the ninth.

Game Notes- The A’s have played seven games at home so far this year and have lost six of them. They won three in Seattle, and their record stands at 4-6. They face the defending World Champs, the Kansas City Royals for three games starting Friday night at the Coliseum. The A’s send lefty Rich Hill to the mound and he will be opposed by Kansas City’s Edinson Volquez. Game time will be at 7:05 PM Friday

Time of game was three hours and three minutes, and there was a small crowd of 11,216on hand to watch the proceedings.