Luis Morales #58 of the Athletics pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on August 16, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Scott Marshall/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — After losing their series to the Tampa Bay Rays at home last week, the A’s got back into the series win column on Saturday night, defeating the Angels 7-2 and taking the first two games of the three-game set.

The A’s sent Luis Morales to the mound for just his second major league start on Saturday. Morales didn’t disappoint, as the 22-year-old right-hander from Cuba tossed five innings of one-run ball while scattering five hits and two walks.

“I thought he got better and better as he went,” Mark Kotsay said after Morales stranded the bases loaded in the first inning.

“I’m very blessed and enjoying the process,” Morales said after his first MLB win. “It’s been a long road, but I’m just enjoying the process.”

The Bullpen

The A’s bullpen was impressive once again, allowing only one run in four innings of work.

Justin Sterner pitched a scoreless sixth inning, and Tyler Ferguson came on and tossed a scoreless seventh. However, Ferguson ran into some trouble with one out in the eighth as he walked two batters. Mark Kotsay had seen enough and elected to go to Sean Newcomb for the last two outs of the inning. It worked out, as Newcomb struck out the next two batters swinging.

In the ninth, Newcomb gave up one run but was able to secure the win for the A’s. All in, Newcomb tossed one and two-thirds innings while striking out three and giving up one run.

The Bats

The A’s offense wasn’t clicking as much as on Friday, but they did enough to take care of the Angels.

Colby Thomas got the A’s going again early on Saturday as he clubbed a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning to give the A’s an early lead.

Darell Hernaiz kept the party going in the third inning with a two-RBI single to make it a 4-1 game.

The A’s scored again in the fifth inning on Brent Rooker’s 25th homer of the season, a 421-foot shot into the Sacramento night.

They weren’t done yet. The A’s added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth thanks to Brett Harris and Rooker RBI singles. The A’s built a commanding 7-1 lead while tallying eight hits on the night.

Up Next

The A’s improved to 56-69 as they continue to try to climb back to the .500 mark.

The A’s will send Jeffrey Springs (10-8, 4.06 ERA) to the mound as they look to sweep the Angels. José Soriano (8-9, 3.84 ERA) is set to start for Los Angeles.