Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout makes it home for his 1,000th career run without a throw to the plate as Oakland Athletics catcher Sean Murphy, left is empty handed, on an infield hit by the Angels Luis Rengifo on Sat May 21, 2022 at the Big A in Anaheim (AP News photo)

A’s Come Up Short Losing To Angels 5-3

By Barbara Mason

Saturday evening the Oakland A’s (17-25) took on the Los Angeles Angels (25-17) in game two of their series dropping the contest 5-3 at the Big A in Anaheim. Friday night the A’s won the first game 4-2 and were hoping to add game two to their win column.

The game remained scoreless through the first four frames. There was some bad news for Oakland when pitcher Frankie Montas who suffered a hand injury. He was forced to leave the game in the bottom of the second inning when he was clipped in the right hand while fielding a line drive hit off the bat of Luis Rengifo.

He did practice a few pitches but just could not continue. Domingo Acevedo took over on the mound. The A’s had to lean on their bullpen for the rest of the game.

The Angels really turned it up in the fifth inning. Rengifo hit a solo homer for the first score in this game 1-0. Once this team got going their was no stopping them. They would score in the sixth and seventh innings.

Shohei Otani and Mike Trout both crossed the plate in the sixth frame extending their lead to 3-0. Trout scored his 1,000 career run a huge milestone in his career. Andrew Velazquez hit a home run in the seventh inning driving Tyler Wade home and the Angels had a significant 5-0 lead going into the eighth inning.

Oakland made a lot of noise in the eighth frame. Sheldon Neuse hit a single driving Kevin Smith home. Next at bat Jed Lowrie hit a double and Neuse scored.

Lowrie would score on an Oliver Ortega wild pitch so the top of the eighth was a good one for Oakland scoring three runs. They would have the ninth inning to try to put some more runs up on the board.

The Angels would put the A’s away in the ninth inning. The final was 5-3 in favor of the Halo’s.

It was a tough one for Oakland but waiting until the eighth inning to start putting runs up on the board, especially with the Angels leading 5-0, was a difficult task for the A’s. It was a game of missed opportunity for Oakland.

Oakland pitcher Lou Trivino had a very tough outing giving up several hits and walking in a run. He couldn’t get anything going in this game.

The rubber game will feature the return of the A’s Cole Irvin (2-1, 2.93) vs. the Angels Patrick Sandoval (2-1, 1.91) who will be on the mound for the Angels. First pitch is scheduled at the Big A for 1:07.