Tag: Los Angeles Angels

Oakland A’s Shea Langeliers belts a three run home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the top of the first inning and it was all the runs the A’s would need to win the game on Sat Jul 27, 2024 at the Big A in Anaheim (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (44-63) got on the board early taking a 3-0 lead. They did not score for the rest of the game but they held on with some solid defense and great work on the mound. Shea Langeliers hit a three run home run in the first inning and that would be all that the A’s would need to finish off the Angels (45-60) 3-1 at Angels Stadium in Anaheim.

The A’s got the early jump on the Angels in the first inning of the game. Shea Langeliers hit a 3-run home run taking an early 3-0 lead and Oakland was off and running and this time it would be Los Angeles that had to play catch up.

The Angels were unable to answer in the bottom of the first inning. Neither team scored in the second inning but Los Angeles attempted a rally in the third inning but was only able to score one run. Los Angeles’ Nolan Schanuel knocked the ball out of the yard for a solo home run. The A’s continued to lead 3-1 going into the seventh inning. Oakland would be looking for an insurance run in the latter innings of this matchup.

The Angels breezed through the top of the seventh inning finishing Oakland off with a double play. Los Angeles would go to work in the bottom of the inning looking to put some more runs on the board.

Oakland’s Austin Adams did a nice job dismissing the Angels and the A’s would take a 3-1 lead into the top of the eighth inning. The A’s Austin Adams had relieved Mitch Spence on the mound in the seventh frame. Spence had a nice game going six innings and finishing with 3 hits, 1 run and 3 strikeouts.

The Angels Hunter Strickland relieved Tyler Anderson to start the eighth inning for Los Angeles. Anderson had an outstanding game going seven innings and finishing with six hits, three runs and ten strikeouts. Both starting pitchers put in some nice work in this game.

The Angels had a leadoff walk in the bottom of the eighth inning with the dangerous Luis Rengifo at the plate. A’s pitcher Michel Otanez who had relieved Adams did a great job getting out of the inning as this game headed into the ninth inning.

Angels pitcher Matt Moore walked Zach Gelof and Daz Cameron. An Abraham Toro sacrifice advanced Gelof and Cameron to second and third base and Oakland had a great chance to extend their lead. The A’s were unable to cash in when Max Schuemann struck out and the Angels had one last inning to change the course of this game.

Oakland’s Tyler Ferguson came into the game looking to close out this game for the A’s. It was a three and out for Ferguson who celebrated his second win. The A’s had won the series and would be going for a sweep in Sunday’s game.

Game recap: Saturday evening the A’s took on the Angels in game three of their four game series. Oakland won the first two games of the series by a single run in two extremely tight games and on Saturday night won game three by two runs 3-1.

The A’s got some great work on the mound from their starters and their bullpen as well. The A’s win in game three is the fourth straight series win for Oakland. In Saturday nights’ game, the A’s started Mitch Spence who pitched six innings, gave up three hits, one earned run, two walks and three strike outs in the win. For the Angels losing pitcher Tyler Anderson pitched seven innings, allowed six hits, gave up three earned runs and a walk.

The A’s will finish off this four game series Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:07 PM. Probable pitchers for game four is Osvaldo Bido (2-1, ERA 3.09) for Oakland and Jose Soriano (6-7, ERA 3.51) for the Angels.

Oakland A’s Seth Brown (15) gets congratulated in the A’s dugout after hitting a home run in the top of the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at the Big A in Anaheim on Fri Jul 26, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Los Angeles Angels (45-59) took the lead early in this game 4-0 but the Oakland A’s (43-63) came roaring back scoring five unanswered runs for a final score of 5-4 in favor of the A’s on Friday. The A’s are in fourth place in the league with 137 home runs hitting two long balls out of the yard in this game.

Game recap: Los Angeles got on the board in the first inning in a perfect start for the team. They hit back to back two run homers taking an early 4-0 lead. Taylor Ward hit the first long ball out of the yard with Luis Rengifro on board for the 2-0 lead. Nolan Schanuel followed that up with another two run home run with Logan O’Hoppe on base and the Angels were off and running.

Oakland cut the Los Angeles lead in half when Seth Brown hit a two run home run in the second inning with Shea Langeliers on base and just like that the score was 4-2 in favor of the Angels.

After five innings of work Oakland pitcher Paul Blackburn was relieved by Joey Estes. Blackburn finished with five hits, four runs and two strikeouts. He had four nice innings only stumbling early in the first inning allowing the two home runs.

Work on the mound took over for the next three innings, the third, fourth and fifth innings with neither team scoring any runs. In the sixth inning, the A’s Brent Rooker tied up the game 4-4 hitting a two run home run.

Oakland would take their first lead of the game in the sixth 5-4 in another one run game. Again Seth Brown stepped up big hitting a single that brought Shea Langeliers home.

When the Angels put a couple of runners on base in the bottom of the eighth inning Oakland pitcher Joey Estes was relieved by T.J. McFarland. McFarland got the A’s out of the inning and it was on to the ninth inning in this tight game.

Oakland was unable to score an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning and the A’s defense would take over in the bottom of the ninth looking for a second win in this series. Lucas Erceg sent the Angels packing only allowing a single hit. Jo Adell struck struck out, Anthony Rendon grounded out and Zach Neto lined out and that was the ball game with the A’s coming out on top with a one run win 5-4.

Post game notes: Friday night the A’s took on the Angels in game two of their four game series. Last night the A’s held onto a 6-5 lead through five innings. Oakland pitcher Ross Stripling had a rough second inning in game one Thursday but pulled it all together going 5 2/3 innings and the A’s stubbornly held onto the one run lead for the rest of the game.

Friday night, the A’s picked up the win in game two and assured themselves of at least tying this series and also a winning record for July. Oakland pitcher Paul Blackburn returned to start coming off the 60 day IR.

This was the first time since early May the A’s have seen him work on the mound. The Angels started Carmen Fulmer who was looking for his first win of the season. Fulmer pitched well enough in a close game going 5.2 innings, allowing two hits and three runs but still couldn’t win it.

Game three of this four game series is scheduled to start at 6:38 PM Saturday night. Probable pitchers for this game are Mitch Spence (6-6, ERA 4.67) for Oakland and for the Angels Tyler Anderson (8-8, ERA 2.91) gets the nod.

Oakland A’s Daz Cameron is congratulated in the A’s dugout after hitting a two run fourth inning home run off the Los Angeles Angels on Thu Jul 25, 2024 at the Big A in Anaheim (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 Oakland A’s All Star flame throwing reliever Mason Miller it was confirmed on Thursday did break his pinkie finger on his non throwing hand when he pounded a table in the trainers room on Monday night after he was told he needed to do a post game lifting after the A’s win over the Houston Astros.

#2 Jeremiah, Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker both hit their ninth home runs in the month of July. They’re efforts have helped the A’s win some games and series as well.

#3 The A’s kept up the offense when Daz Cameron hit a fourth inning two run homer off Angels starter Kenny Rosenberg. The A’s have been putting together some great offense hitting 21 homers in their last eight games.

#4 With Butler and Rooker’s nine home runs apiece that’s third best in baseball for the month of July.

#5 The A’s continue their series with the Angels on Friday night. The A’s RHP Paul Blackburn (3-2, 4.11) and the Angels RHP Carson Fulmer (0-3, ERA 3.66) starters for game two of this series.

Join Jeremiah for the A’s podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s Lawrence Butler goes head first into third base and the throw bounces off his helmet against the Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim at the Big A on Thu Jul 25, 2024 (AP News photo)

The Oakland A’s (41-63) trailed for a minute in the third inning but recovered not only tying up the game but taking a 6-5 lead which was the final score. After a shaky 2nd inning in which the Los Angeles Angels (45-57) scored five runs, Oakland starting pitcher Ross Stripling reined it back in shutting down Los Angeles through the next 3 2/3 innings.

Game recap: The A’s got a quick start in this game scoring twice in the first inning taking a 2-0 lead. Lawrence Butler continued the great offensive play that has earned him the lead-off position. He doubled in the inning and scored on an Angels throwing error by catcher Logan O’Hoppe taking the early lead 1-0. Oakland would addd to that tally when Brent Rooker hit his 24th home run of the season.

Los Angeles would break this game open in the second inning scoring five runs. Oakland pitcher Ross Stripling walked two runners giving up two doubles, and a couple of singles struggling throughout the inning. He finally got through the inning but the damage had been done. The Angels had taken a 5-2 lead and Oakland would have to fight their way back into this game.

The A’s did indeed fight their way back into the game in the third inning. Again an amazing long ball to the tune of 413 feet from Lawrence Butler with Max Schuemann on base and Oakland was only trailing by a single run 5-4.

The A’s not only tied up this game in the fourth inning but took back the lead. Daz Cameron hit a two run homer out of the yard with Tyler Nevin on base and Oakland had a 6-5 lead. After a shaky second inning, A’s pitcher Ross Stripling really reeled it back in through the third, fifth and sixth innings.

Stripling finished the game going 5 2/3 innings allowing six hits, five runs and two base on balls. He really turned it all around after a rough second inning giving up next to nothing for the rest of his assignment. He gave up a single in the third inning, a three and out in the fourth and fifth innings. He was relieved in the sixth by Scott Alexander who has been a very tough pitcher to face. He got Oakland out of the sixth inning with a runner on base.

With one out, the A’s had the bases loaded and Abraham Toro at the plate. Toro grounded out to first and the A’s had missed a huge opportunity to extend their lead. They were hanging onto the one run lead 6-5 going into the bottom of the eighth inning. Oakland’s Lucas Erceg pitched the eighth inning going three and out and it was on to the top of the ninth.

Oakland had one last chance to score an insurance run in the ninth frame. The A’s left two runners on base and had blown another great scoring opportunity. A’s closer Tyler Ferguson would try to close out this game for Oakland and avoid an Angels’ walk off. Pillar struck out, O’Hoppe struck out and Schanuel flied out and the A’s had won game one of this four game series 6-5.

Game notes: After winning their third series in a row, the A’s traveled down south to take on the Angels at Angel Stadium. Southern California has also been toasty much like Northern California has been and this game was looking at 85 degrees at first pitch.

Oakland played the Angels earlier this week taking games one and two but dropping the third game of the series 8-5 at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s opened the fourth series with a win by a run difference. Ross Stripling who had been on the IL returned and picked up his second win now 2-9. The Angels will starter Kenny Rosenberg pitched 3.1 innings, allowed six hits and six earned runs in the loss to Oakland.

First pitch for game two will be tomorrow evening at 6:38. Paul Blackburn will be the probable starting pitcher for Oakland after returning from IR and the Angels will assign Carson Fulmer to start.

24 rooker homers

Former Oakland A’s third base coach and current Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington instructs players from the dugout on Sat Jul 20, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum against the A’s. This is the last visit for the former A’s coach and he left all those memories out on the field. (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Kevin Pillar hit a two run double which helped paced the Los Angeles Angels to a 5 run eighth inning rally that eventually helped defeat the A’s 8-5 at the Oakland Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.

#2 The Angels Logan O’Hoppe started the eighth off with a single, pinch hitter Nolan Schanuel hit an RBI single, and Jo Adell got a base on balls from A’s reliever Lucas Erceg in the five run eighth for a comeback.

#3 The Angels with the win snap a team franchise eight game losing streak. The Angels had got walloped by the A’s in the first two games of this series with a 13-3 loss on Friday and a 8-2 loss on Saturday. They put out a full effort to avoid a sweep on Sunday.

#4 This would be the final visit to the Oakland Coliseum for the Angels and their manager Ron Washington as the A’s are moving to Sacramento after this season. Washington spent many years as the long time third base coach of the A’s and is sad to see his old team leave Oakland, “There’s so much that has been going on in this place, I’m going to certainly miss it as a guy that’s been a coach here, as a guy that watched a lot of young players grow here and now as a guy that came back and managed here,”

#5 The A’s open a three game series against the Houston Astros on Monday night. Starting pitcher for the Astros RHP Spencer Arrighetti (4-7, ERA 5.63) starter for the A’s LHP Hogan Harris (1-3, ERA 3.40) first pitch at 6:40pm PT.

Barbara Mason does the A’s podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Los Angeles Angels Mickey Moniak (left) gets congratulated from third base Eric Young Sr (right) after hitting a home run off Oakland A’s starter Joey Estes in the top of the fifth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Jul 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

Los Angeles (42-57). 000 110 051. 8. 15. 0

Athletics (42-57). 002 010 200. 5. 8. 0

Time: 3:08

Attendance: 10,380

Sunday, July 31, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–They say that the third time’s the charm. This pleasant Sunday afternoon at the vacant lot off the Nimitz, it was more of a curse than a charm. The Wandering Athletics who visit there 81 times a year and had just won two straight games against the visiting Los Angeles Angels, blew 5-2 lead in the eighth inning and went down to an ignominious 8-5 loss.

As was expected, the A’s placed Jacob Wilson on the ten day injured list, retroactive to July 20, when he strained his left hamstring while scoring a run in his major league debut. They concurrently reinstated Abraham Toro from the IL.

Joey Estes, who started for the Athletics, has pitched some good baseball recently, including a complete game shutout of the Angels here at the Coliseum on July 3. Still, he was only 4-4, 5.29 at game time. His performance Sunday was more in tune with the rest of the season than with that highlight.

He went 5-2/3 innings, not even enough for a so-called quality start, and allowed two runs, both earned, on eight hits, one for all the bases, two walks, and a hit batter. Estes ended the day with a slightly reduced ERA of 5.11.

TJ McFarland replaced him while the A’s were ahead 4-2 with the Angels threatening with runners on first and second and two down and closed out the inning and allowed only a single in the following one, throwing 18 pitches in the process.

(Estes had thrown 97, 64 qualifying as strikes). The A’s used, and the Angels abused, three more hurlers. Lucas Erceg, the eventual loser, whose record now stands at 2-3, 4.01, failed to get an out against the four batters he faced and who scored four runs, all earned, against him on two hits, a walk, a wild pitch, and a hit batter.

He was followed by Scott Alexander, who was charged with a blown save after staying on the mound for a third of an inning and allowing a run, earned, and a hit. Michel Otáñez also took his lumps, yielding a run, also earned, on two hits, a walk, and a wild pitch although he did log five strikeouts.

Carson Fulmer had a brilliant future in front of him when the White Sox made him their first round choice (eighth overall) in the 2015 draft. Nine years later, his promise remains unfulfilled. The 30 year old righty had a lifetime big league record of 7-10, 6.14 when he accompanied the Halos as a non-roster invitee to spring training after having appeared in three games in 2023.

He was sent to Salt Lake, where he pitched all of three innings before rejoining the Angels, for whom he went 0-2, 3.45 before making his second start and 26th of the season Sunday. Fulmer lasted only 4-2/3 innings before Hunter Strickland relieved him. In his brief tenure on the mound, the 30 year old AAAA pitcher surrendered three runs, all earned, on five hits, one which left the park, and two bases on balls. He faced a score of batters in the no decision that raised his ERA to 3.66.

The team from Anaheim sent five bullpen denizens to the mound. Hunter Strickland (a hit in 1-1/3 innings), Hans Crouse, two runs, earned bug posthumous, on a hit and two walks in 1-1/3 frames), Ben Joyce (a hit and a wild pitch in two thirds of an inning), Luis García (one inning, one strikeout), and Carlos Estevez, who earned his 18th save with by holding the A’s to a walk in the ninth inning.

The A’s pulled ahead with a two run bottom of the third on doubles by Lawrence Butler, JJ Bleday, and Brent Rooker only to give up one of those runs in the visitors’ fourth on two singles, a hit batter, and Brandon Drury’s sacrifice fly to the center field wall.

The Angels chipped further at the A’s lead one frame later when Mickey Moniac’s fly to right made it just over the wall, 377 feet from the plate, for his sixth home run of the year, a solo shot that made it 3-2.

The Athletics retaliated in the bottom of the frame when Miguel Andújar drove a liner off the front of the left field seats for his four dinger of the year and Fulmer to the showers with the green and gold now leading 4-2. They tacked on another pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh on a walk to Schuemann, singles by Andújar and Butler, a bases loaded walk to Rooker, and a wild pitch.

That newfound three run lead was obliterated by an Angel’s blitz in the top of the eighth. Lucas Erceg relieved McFarland and gave up back to back singles to Logan O’Hoppe and Zach Neto, both of whom advanced on a passed ball. Erceg hit Brandon Drury with a pitch to load the bases but not before releasing a wild one that gave O’Hoppe the gift of third base.

A walk to Jo Adell and the basepaths still were crowded with Angels after O’Hoppe hopped home. A pinch hitting Nolan Schanuel beat out an infield single in spite of Gelof’s mighty effort. Brett Harris, who entered the game as a defensive replacement for Toro, chose not to try for the force at home on Rendon’s grounder but instead went for the around the horn double play.

All he got for that was a force out at second. Kevin Pillar, hitting for Moniak, smacked a double that drove in two more runs. He was at third while trying to advance on the play, but the review crew in New York overturned that call.

At that point, Mich Otáñez was called on to stop the hemorrhage. He applied the tourniquet, but the Angels now held a 7-5 lead, which they stretched to 8-5 in an inning that featured a wild pitch by Otáñez and the pitcher’s failure to cover first on a grounder hit to Brown.

The win was the 5,000th regular season victory in the history of the California, Anaheim, and Los Angeles Angels. The loss was a bitter one for the Athletics, in spite of good performances from Andújar (three for five, including a home run), Rooker (a double and two RBI), Butler (2 for 3, a double, and two walks; his fourth consecutive multi-hit game), and Bleday, whose third inning RBI two bagger put him in second place for doubles in the American League.

The Houston Astros come to The Town for a night game set for 6:40 Monday evening. Hogan Harris (1-3, 3.40) will hurl for the homeless heroes; Spencer Arrightetti (4-7, 5.63), will throw for the ‘stros.

Oakland A’s Brent Rooker (left) gets congratulated by teammates JJ Bleday (33) and Miguel Andujar (22) after slugging a three run home run in the bottom of the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Jul 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg:

#1 The Oakland A’s made a fast two wins to start this second half of the 2024 season after the All Star break. Taking Friday night’s game in a 13-3 laugher over the Los Angeles Angels and Saturday getting run production from Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler with 3 RBIs each in the A’s 8-2 win.

#2 Before the All Star Break the A’s took two out of three from one of baseball’s toughest team the Philadelphia Phillies in Philadelphia. If the A’s are on the way to winning a whole bunch of games was the Philadelphia experiment a good curve of that?

#3 A’s are getting a sense that this team is starting to jell. Their hitting has vastly improved but the pitching has also kept them in games with recent help from starters JP Sears on Friday and Saturday starter Mitch Spence on Saturday.

#4 A’s have been rolling they’ve won six of their last ten games they’re 13.5 games off the pace in the AL West and have a lot of work ahead of them if they want to be a factor in this race. Some say this A’s team can’t do it and would be lucky if they don’t lost 100 games this season. In view of what you’ve seen in recent games is this just a passing phase or are these A’s serious?

#5 The Angels will try and avoid getting swept today at the Oakland Coliseum and will start RHP Carlson Fulmer (0-2, ERA 3.45) and the A’s will try for the sweep with starter RHP Joey Estes (4-4, ERA 5.29).

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com and is a reporter at 1080 KWAI Honolulu

Oakland A’s Brent Rooker (25) slugs a bottom of the first inning three run home run in front of the Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Jul 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Los Angeles (41-57). 001 001 000. 2. 6. 0

Athletics (39-61). 300 400 10x. 8 11 1

Time: 2:29

Attendance: 14,574

Saturday, July 20, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The A’s made it two in a row and clinched the series win against the Angels this lovely Saturday afternoon at the decrepit but, as ever, beautifully manicured Oakland Coliseum. They handily defeated their visitors from the south, 8-2, in a game whose outcome never was in doubt.

Mitch Spence, who started for the Athletics, began the season well, but his performance declined steadily since his first appearance of the season, on March 29. He had been 3-1, 2.84 through April 30. He pitched exclusively in relief through May 13, compiling a record of 4-2, 4.26, after which he joined the rotation. He was 4-4, 4.35 on June 30 and 5-6, 4.75 at game time. The 26 year old righty began to reverse that decline this afternoon.

Spence lasted 5-1/3 innings and allowed two runs, both earned, on five hits, three walks, and a wild pitch to get the win that lowered his ERA to 4.67. Scott Alexander (untouched in two thirds of an inning), Austin Adams (a walk and a strikeout in an inning), and Tyler Ferguson (one hit and a pair of strikeouts in two innings) followed him to the mound. He threw 85 pitches; 35 were balls.

Rookie Jack Kochanowicz, who began last year in High-A Tri-City, made his first big league appearance nine days ago in relief against Seattle. This afternoon marked his first start in the show.

It was not an impressive performance. The 23 year old right hander surrendered seven runs, all earned, on seven hits, one of them a home run, in four innings. He issued three free passes and struck out four Athletics. His pitch count reached 74 in his abbreviated mound tenure and took the loss, leaving him at 0-2, 14.14 Kenny Rosenberg replaced him in the fifth and held the A’s to one run on four hits and a walk.

The A’s picked up where they had left off in yesterday’s 13-3 thrashing of the visiting Angels. Brent Rooker took a 96 mph sinker 445 feet deep, into the left field seats above the American League scoreboard, with Miguel Andújar and JJ Bleday on base, to put the green and gold up 3-0 after an inning of play. It was his 22nd roundtripper and drove in his 63rd, 64th, and 65th runs batted in of 2024.

A combination of sloppy play by the Athletics and heads up baserunning by the Halos’ Jo Adell allowed Los Angeles to get back a run in the third. Adell led off with a walk, stole second, and advanced to third when catcher Kyle McCann couldn’t handle Spence’s third strike to Luis Guillome, forcing the throw to first that put Adell in position to score on Anthony Redon’s sacrifice line drive to left.

It was the bottom of the fourth that proved to be the Angels’ undoing. Brett Rooker and Kyle McCann singled, Harris and Max Schuemann walked, Lawrence Butler doubled to add four runs to the Athletics’ advantage.

The visitors drove Spence from the mound in the sixth. Zach Neto’s double down the left field line that went just under Harris’s glove at third plated Tyler Ward, who had led off with a walk and moved on to second on Logan O’Hoppe’s single to center. Scott Alexander, retiring with nine pitches. the two batters he faced to put out the fire.

The homeless wonders tacked on an insurance run in the seventh, courtesy of Schuemann’s leadoff double and Miguel Andújar’s RBI single off Rosenberg.

Both Butler and Andújar, the numbers one and two in the batting order, went three for four. The former drove in three runs; the latter, one. Rooker went two for three and had three RBI. Schuemann drove in the remaining tally.

Lower calf soreness forced Los Angeles first sacker Nolan Schanuel to leave the game after the top of the third.

Joey Estes (4-4, 5.29), who’s been on a tear recently, will pitch for the Athletics in their attempt to sweep the series when he goes against the Angels Carlos Fulmer (0-2, 3.45). The first pitch is scheduled for 1:07.

left to right the Oakland A’s Seth Brown (15), Brett Harris (77) congratulate Max Scheumann (12) on his three run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Jul 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Morris, the A’s have been a hitting bunch of late. They took two out of three from the Philadelphia Phillies when the finished the first half of the season and they come back last night and won in lopsided contest beating the Los Angeles Angels 13-3.

#2 The A’s Max Scheumann contributed with a three run home run and had four RBIs in the ten run win against the Angels.

#3 The A’s JJ Bleday and Shea Langeliers both hit two run home runs. They’ve getting their share of extra bases but over the last week it’s been a huge improvement.

#4 Earlier this season the A’s were having issues with getting run production but in their last road trip against Boston and Philadelphia would you say that’s helped build their confidence?

#5 Angels and A’s match up again today at the Coliseum. The Angels will be starting RHP Jack Kochanowicz (0-1, 12.00 ERA) he’s matching up against the A’s RHP Mitch Spence (5-6, ERA 4.75).

Morris is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com