OAKLAND, Calif. — The Angels officially kissed the Oakland Coliseum goodbye as they edged out the Oakland Athletics and avoided a sweep with an 8-5 victory on Sunday.
The Angels (39-62) and Athletics (42-57) first squared off in Oakland on May 31, 1968, when the Anaheim-based club used “California” as its location identifier. Fifty-six years later, the AL West rivalry’s chapter in the Bay Area stadium has ended.
The A’s are set to relocate to Sacramento next season before building their permanent stadium in Las Vegas.
“There’s so much that has been going on in this place, I’m going to certainly miss it,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “The people here still love the Oakland A’s.”
First baseman Nolan Schanuel was absent from the starting lineup with a calf injury he suffered Saturday, causing him to exit the game in the third inning. He returned in the eighth inning Sunday, however, as a pinch hitter and tallied two hits and an RBI.
Angels starter Carson Fulmer (0-2, 3.66 ERA) allowed three earned runs on five hits and two walks in 4⅔ innings. The Angels found themselves down 2-0 in the third inning — before tying the game — until the A’s came out in front again. However, Los Angeles rallied back in the late frames and earned the victory.
Angels center fielder Mickey Moniak notched his sixth home run. The Angels recorded a whopping 15 hits as their bats woke up following two dry spells to begin the series.
Oakland starter Joey Estes (4-4, 5.11 ERA) nearly earned a quality start as he only allowed two earned runs with four strikeouts in 5⅔ innings. But the Athletics’ bullpen struggled, allowing the Angels to complete a much-needed comeback.
Center fielder Kevin Pillar smacked a two-run triple in the eighth inning, giving the Angels their first lead of the day and capping off a five-run inning that proved crucial.
Angels veteran Luis García (4-1, 3.98 ERA) was credited with the win, while Lucas Erceg (2-3, 4.01 ERA) suffered the loss. Closer Carlos Estévez (1-3, 2.53 ERA) registered his 18th save.
The Angels will face the A’s again in a three-game series starting Thursday at Angel Stadium. The win was the Angels’ first at the Oakland Coliseum since April 2, 2023, snapping an eight-game losing streak in the East Bay.
Next, the Angels will head north to Seattle to face the Mariners (53-48) for a three-game series beginning Monday. Los Angeles took three of four against Seattle in their last series.
Left-hander Tyler Anderson (8-8, 2.97 ERA) will face right-hander Bryce Miller (7-7, 3.63 ERA) at T-Mobile Park.