Photo credit: @nbcbayarea

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — It was the second Opening Day for the Oakland A’s Thursday at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s started the season in Tokyo with two losses to the Seattle Mariners, and they were eager to get their first win of the year. Mike Fiers, who didn’t pitch well in Tokyo, redeemed himself as he went six innings and allowed just one hit. Fiers improved to 1-1 for the season. The A’s bullpen came through, as they did last year with three scoreless innings, and the A’s won 4-0.

The A’s scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second. Jurickson Profar, making his home debut for the A’s, tripled to right field leading off. Chad Pinder hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Profar with the run. The A’s led 1-0 after two complete.

The A’s added a run in the third. With one out, Robbie Grossman singled to left. Grossman stole second and Angels’ starter Trevor Cahill walked Matt Chapman to put men on at first and second with one out. Stephen Piscotty doubled to drive in Grossman with the A’s second run. Cahill pitched his way out of the jam when Chapman tried to score on a ground ball to third. He was thrown out at home for the second out of the inning. Cahill then retired Profar on a flyball to left. The A’s shortstop Marcus Semien hit his first home run of the year when he sent Cahill 91 MPH sinker over the fence in centerfield. The A’s led 3-0 after four.

The A’s DH Khris Davis led off the bottom of the sixth with his second dinger of the year. Cahill had Davis in an 0-2 hole when he threw another 91 MPH sinker that Davis did not miss. The A’s led 4-0 heading into the seventh.

The A’s bullpen did their job as they held the Angels scoreless and preserved the first win of the year for Oakland. The A’s won 4-0.

Game Notes: Marcus Semien and Khris Davis each hit a solo home run for the Green and Gold. Leadoff hitter Robbie Grossman singled in his first two at-bats in his first game at the Coliseum as an Oakland Athletic. Jurickson Profar tripled in his first trip to the plate in the second inning. Stephen Piscotty has hit safely in all three games this year and had an RBI double in the third inning.

Mike Fiers had his best career outing against the Angels, allowing one hit in six scoreless innings.

The A’s are now 1-2, and the Angels are 0-1.

The A’s line was four runs, seven hits, and one error.

The Angels’ line was no runs, three hits, and no errors.

In the eighth inning, the Angels’ Mike Trout survived a scare when he slid into second base. He came up holding his knee, and everyone in the ballpark held their breath as it appeared that he was injured. Fortunately, he hook it off and stayed in the game.

Time of game was two hours and 18 minutes and 22,691 fans watched the A’s win their first game of the season.

Up Next: The A’s and Angels play game two of the four-game series Friday night at 7:07 pm at the Coliseum. Marco Estrada will make his second start for Oakland and Matt Harvey, the former New York Met and Cincinnati Red, will go for the Angels.