By Barbara Mason

After a very long 2023 MLB season (far longer for some then others) the Oakland A’s (49-111) took on the Los Angeles Angels (72-88) to finish off their season in a three game series at Angel Stadium. Neither team had anything to play for other than pride. For the A’s there was nothing to be proud about as Oakland lost it’s fourth out of it’s last five games 5-1 on Friday night.

The Angels had a disappointing season but no one got close to the disaster that the A’s suffered through with the exception of the Royals, the Rockies and the White Sox.

It can’t get any worse than being touted as the worst team in baseball. Despite all of that, the Athletics continued to fight through the season. They held their heads high and did play a better brand of baseball in the final months of the season.

Despite a losing season, the Angels drew a nice crowd for this finale with 32,333 in attendance. The A’s did get on the board first in the third inning. Brent Rooker doubled Zach Gelof home giving the A’s the 1-0 lead but that would be the one and only run for Oakland in this game.

Los Angeles scored three runs in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth inning. As the third inning finished up the Angels had taken a 3-1 lead and in the fifth inning, Mickey Moniak hit a two-run home run for a 5-1 lead which was the final. Moniak had not seen action since September 5 due to left back tightness

It was a tough outing for A’s pitcher Ken Waldichuk who gave up seven hits and four runs walking three players. Los Angeles pitcher Chase Silseth gave up two hits and the one run in four innings.

This was his first start since August 26 after being hit by an errant throw from third baseman Trey Cabbage. Relief pitcher for the Angels Davis Daniel went five scoreless innings for his first major league win.

The A’s are now on a 3-12 skid and they have the most losses in the major leagues since the Detroit Tigers went 47-114 in 2019.

The Angels have not yet decided on a starting pitcher for Saturday’s game two. Oakland will send Joe Boyle (1-0 ERA 0.00) to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 6:07 PM in this final weekend of the regular MLB season.