OAKLAND, Calif. — The Angels were met with a rude awakening in their first game back from the All-Star break, falling 13-3 to the Oakland Athletics on Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum.
The 10-run blowout ended the three-game winning streak by the Angels (41-56) as the A’s (38-61) dominated in the middle innings and never looked back.
Oakland got a hold of right-handed starter Griffin Canning (3-10, 5.20 ERA) right out of the gate, forcing manager Ron Washington to turn to the bullpen early. Canning appeared to have suffered an injury in what was his 20th start of the season.
“He has a little irritation in his elbow, and we decided to take him out,” said Washington postgame. “It’s day-to-day.”
Canning struggled to get ahead in counts and only pitched 3⅓ innings. He allowed six earned runs on six hits, raising his WHIP to 1.42 and reaching the double-digit loss total on the season. While he was somewhat steady through the first three innings, infielder Max Schuemann’s three-run home run in the fourth ended Canning’s evening.
“He just had too many pitches up in the zone,” Washington said. “When lefties hit him like that, you know there wasn't much going on. Just wasn't a good night, [the A’s] banged us around the yard.”
The severity of Canning’s wound is yet to be officially confirmed — but the Angels will hope to avoid sending another player to the injured list — an action they’ve already become so accustomed to this season.
“My slider was kind of bugging me a little bit,” Canning said. “It's kind of just the ebbs and flows of baseball. I just kind of want to get back to being myself and try and have some fun out there.”
Oakland’s southpaw starter JP Sears (7-7, 4.49 ERA) struck out four Halos while allowing two earned runs and one unearned in 5⅔ innings.
A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson’s highly anticipated major-league debut would be cut short after he suffered a strained left hamstring while rounding third in the third inning and exited the game. The 22-year-old recorded his first career major-league hit, a single, while also contributing to a double play on defense. His status for the remainder of the series is unclear.
Shortstop Zach Neto and first baseman Nolan Schanuel went deep for Los Angeles, but with six runners left on base, the Angels’ offense was largely dormant. Neto was the bright spot for Los Angeles, as he registered a team-leading three hits, raising his OPS to an impressive .753 mark.
The Halos’ bullpen couldn’t avenge Canning, allowing seven more A’s runs after his departure. Oakland hit seven extra-base hits with three home runs in the game, with Schuemann, center fielder JJ Bleday and catcher Shea Langeliers all reaching the seats. The Athletics' seven-run sixth inning effectively put the game away, as they continued their recent offensive surge following an 18-run performance in their final game before the All-Star break.
At 1:07 p.m. Saturday the Angels will starter rookie right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (0-1, 12.00 ERA) start against right-hander Mitch Spence (5-6, 4.75 ERA). Los Angeles will look to avoid losing its final-ever series in Oakland before the A’s relocate to Sacramento next season.