Rosenberg struggles early as Angels fall to A's

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Kenny Rosenberg's first start of the season was one he would probably have hoped to forget after pitching just 3 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and six runs against the Oakland Athletics.

The Angels suffered a 6-5 loss to the A's Thursday night, ending the Angels' four-game win streak.

Rosenberg had appeared in two games for the Angels in 10 relief innings. The 29-year-old left-handed pitcher from Mill Valley, Calif., could not repeat his recent success after giving up four runs.

"It's great to have your own game," Rosenberg said. "I take pride in being able to have the opportunity to give the team the opportunity to win a game, rather than cleaning up somebody else's mess like the bullpen did for me tonight.

"It feels bad, to lose a game for a team that's been playing pretty well recently."

Rosenberg's struggles started early when he gave up a two-run home run to Oakland’s Brent Rooker, putting the A's ahead 2-0. Before Rooker’s homer, catcher Logan O’Hoppe was charged with an error trying to throw out Lawrence Butler, who came around to score.

Butler went on to hit a two-run home run in the third inning.

Angels manager Ron Washington credited both Rooker and Butler for tagging Rosenberg.

"When we've made mistakes at the wrong part of the plate, the pitchers are not getting to them," Washington said. "The last couple at-bats, we made some pitches where he couldn't get to. ...

"Rosenberg threw a changeup to Rooker and he didn't miss it. Then he came back up the next at-bat he had a fastball and took us straightaway to center field."

After Oakland's early offensive explosion, the Angels' offense heated up with a five-run fifth that was started by O'Hoppe's single to center field, driving in Kevin Pillar who doubled just before. O'Hoppe was able to advance to second base and Zach Neto drove him home, tying the game at 2-2.

The Angels took the lead in the next at-bat as Mickey Moniak hit a sacrifice fly that scored Nolan Schaunel. Anthony Rendon walked and Luis Rengifo hit two-out blooper to left field, bringing in both Neto and Rendon and made the score 5-2.

The A's took the lead for go in the fourth on Daz Cameron's two-run home run to center field.

In the seventh inning, Moniak was almost the offensive hero, driving the ball to deep left field for a triple. However, he was called out on the tag on third after a replay review showed he overslid the bag.

"You gotta get to that bag and the way that it happened, his slide was late,"  Washington said. "When he hit the bag, he had too much momentum going and couldn't stay down on it."

The Angels are set to play game two against the Athletics at home at 6:38 p.m. Friday.