The Oakland A’s Luis Barrera connects for a right field walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels in the front game of a doubleheader at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat May 14, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Saturday, May 14, 2022

Luis Barrera hit a dramatic walk-off home run for Oakland in game one, and Shohei Otani reached a unique milestone in game two for the Los Angeles Angels, as the AL West teams split a doubleheader Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum.

The Athletics won the first game 4-3, while the Angels took the nightcap 9-1. Oakland is in fourth place in the AL West at 15-21, while the Angels are in second place with a record of 23-13.

GAME 1
Athletics 4, Angels 3In the bottom of the ninth, Raisel Iglesias (1-1) was called upon by Los Angeles to preserve the Angels’ 3-1 lead, and promptly retired pinch hitter Seth Brown and Sean Murphy on outfield flyouts.

Ramon Laureano doubled to right-center, followed by a walk issued to Christian Bethancourt. Barrera homered 373 feet to right field, ending the game and atoning for a throwing error in the eighth that allowed the Angels’ third run.

The Angels scored two runs in the top of the eighth to break a 1-1 tie. Anthony Redon hit a run-scoring single to left, and Andrew Velazquez also hit an RBI single to left. Mike Trout, who was intentionally walked, scored on the play after Barrera’s throwing error.

Oakland tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh on Jed Lawrie’s RBI single to center, scoring Laureano, who opened the inning with a double.

Barrera’s heroics made Lou Trivino (1-2) the winning pitcher. Trivino worked the final 1/3 of the ninth inning, logging one strikeout. A’s starter Paul Blackburn went 6 2/3 innings, giving up one earned run on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

Angels starter Jhonathan Diaz worked 4 2/3 innings, giving one hit and four walks with four strikeouts. Reliever Aaron Loup was charged with a blown save.

Laureano had two of Oakland’s five hits. Brandon Marsh was 3-for-4 for Los Angeles.

GAME 2
Angels 9, Athletics 1

Shohei Ohtani hit his 100th career home run in the top of the fifth inning off A’s starter Adam Oller (0-3). By hitting his seventh home run of the season, Ohtani became the second MLB player to hit 100 home runs as a hitter and strike out 250 hitters, joining only Babe Ruth.

Ohtani also became the third Japanese-born MLB player to hit 100 home runs, joining Hideki Matsui and Ichiro Suzuki.

Oller was rung up for eight earned runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out three. Justin Grimm and Adam Kolarek also pitched in relief for the A’s.

Michael Lorenzen (4-2) held the A’s to one earned run on five hits and one walk, with three strikeouts. Angels leadoff hitter Taylor Ward was 3-for-3 with a double and his eighth home run of the season, along with five runs batted in.

The two teams wrap up their weekend series on Sunday afternoon. Patrick Sandoval (1-1, 2.03) starts for the Angels, while the A’s counter with Frankie Montas (2-3, 3.77). First pitch is set for 1:07 p.m. PDT.