Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — What a glorious day to play a ballgame! The weather at the Coliseum was fantastic, and the A’s and Angels were getting ready to play the first game of the season. The fans filed in, and the festivities were underway to kick off the 2018 season. A’s Hall of Fame pitcher Rollie Fingers threw out the first pitch to conclude the Opening Day ceremonies and the time has come to Play Ball.

Kendall Graveman started for Oakland, and he was not at his best. He went five-plus innings and was tagged for five runs, all earned. In his five-plus innings of work, he threw 78 pitches and gave up seven hits, including three solo home runs, a triple and a double. A’s designated hitter Khris Davis put a charge in the A’s offense when he homered with two men on. First baseman Matt Olson, the next batter after Davis, blasted his first of the year to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth. The A’s tied the game in the seventh and won it 6-5 in a walk-off in the 11th. It was a thriller.

Graveman was the starting pitcher for the A’s, and he was opposed by the Angels’ Garrett Richards. It was the second year in a row that two pitchers faced each other on Opening Day. Graveman set the Angels down in order in the first inning, but ran into trouble in the second.

The Angels drew first blood as the scored two runs on four hits. Kole Calhoun got things going for the Angels when he tripled to deep right centerfield. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons singled sharply to centerfield to drive in Calhoun. Graveman retired Luis Valbuena when third baseman Matt Chapman made a sensational catch over the tarpaulin to record the out. The next batter, Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani making his Major League debut, singled to right to send Simmons to third. Angels’ catcher Martin Maldonado hit a ground rule double to drive in Simmons with the Angels second run. The A’s mounted a threat in their half of the second when they put men on at second and third with two out, but Matt Joyce struck out to end the threat. The Angels lead 2-0 after two innings of play.

The Angels upped the lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning when Kole Calhoun, who seems to own Graveman, homered to deep left centerfield. Graveman settled down and retired the next three Angel hitters. The A’s failed to score in the bottom of the inning. In the top of the fifth, the Angels added another run on the strength of Zach Cozart’s first dinger of the season. The A’s got on the board in their half of the fifth. With one out, Richards walked Matt Joyce and Marcus Semien. He struck out Jed Lowrie for the second out. The A’s DH Khris “Khrush” Davis homered just over the wall in left centerfield to make it 4-3. The next batter Matt Olson tied the game with a solo blast to right.

Graveman, facing Albert Pujols leading off the sixth, served up another gopher ball. Pujols sent the ball deep into the left-field seats for his first homer of the season and 615th of his career for the future Hall of Fame player. Graveman was done for the day and was replaced by Ryan Buchter who was making his Oakland A’s debut. The A’s tied the game in the bottom of the seventh.With one out, three consecutive singles by Semien, Lowrie, and Khris Davis produced the A’s fifth run

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the 11th. With one out, Boog Powell tripled over the head of Justin Upton who was not playing deep. The Angels issued an intentional walk to Matt Joyce to set up an inning-ending double play. Angel manager Mike Scioscia brought Upton as a fifth infielder. The strategy failed as Marcus Semien singled to center to end the game and send the 27,764 fans home very happy. Final score: The A’s won 6-5.

Game Notes: Time of game was four hours and two minutes and 27,764 fans were at the game. The hitting stars for Oakland were Marcus Semien with hits, including the game-winning single, and Boog Powell with a double and a triple. His triple in the 11th inning set up the winning run. Khris Davis with singles and homered to drive in four runs. Matt Olson hit a moonshot Jed Lowrie contributed two hits to help the A’s win.

The Angels’ second baseman, Zach Cozart, in his first game as an Angel had three hits, including a home run and a double. Kole Calhoun recorded a home run, a triple, and a single to start the season. Future Hall of Fame player, Albert Pujols, had two hits including the 615th home run of his illustrious career. Catcher Martin Maldonado tormented the A’s pitching staff as he had three hits. Angels’ rookie Shohei Ohtani singled on the very first pitch in the Major League. The A’s shut him down the rest of the way. Two-time MVP Mike Trout went hitless in six at-bats.

Up Next: Game two of the four-game series will be played at 7:05 pm PST Friday night. Sean Manaea will pitch for Oakland, and Tyler Skaggs will start for the Angels.