ANAHEIM, Calif. — For four innings Friday night, it looked as if the Athletics were headed for another frustrating evening against Angels rookie right-hander Walbert Ureña.
Then everything unraveled for the Angels in the span of one unforgettable fifth inning.
The Athletics erased an early deficit by stringing together six consecutive singles during a seven-run fifth inning, powering their way to a 9-3 victory over the Angels at Angel Stadium. The win marked Oakland's second straight victory and kept the club within striking distance in a tightly contested American League West race.
Ureña had been nearly untouchable through the opening four innings, retiring the first 12 Athletics hitters in order after also dominating Oakland in his previous start six days earlier. But the Athletics finally solved him with a patient approach and relentless contact.
“He was dominant for four innings," Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. "He’s been dominant all year against us, really. I think we did a good job of making an adjustment during the fifth inning. We got more patient, drew a walk or two, put some hits together. The plan tonight was to get the ball up in the zone. During the fifth, I think we took advantage of some mistakes up in the zone.”
Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler opened the inning with walks before Max Muncy delivered the Athletics' first hit. Jeff McNeil followed with a two-run single to give Oakland its first lead at 2-1.
The inning only snowballed from there.
Alika Williams singled and advanced on a throwing error by center fielder Josh Lowe before Henry Bolte lined a two-run single. Nick Kurtz ended an 0-for-15 slump with an RBI single, and Shea Langeliers capped the rally with another run-scoring hit before Ureña was finally lifted after allowing seven runs.
The Athletics collected six straight singles during the decisive rally, with five consecutive hitters driving in runs as Oakland turned a 1-0 deficit into a commanding 7-1 lead.
The offensive explosion was more than enough for right-hander J.T. Ginn, who enjoyed another successful outing at Angel Stadium.
Ginn, who carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning in Anaheim on May 18 before suffering a heartbreaking walk-off loss, wasn't quite as dominant this time but was effective when it mattered. He allowed three runs on eight hits over six innings, striking out five and walking one to improve to 6-4 on the season.
The 26-year-old revealed afterward that he battled through illness before taking the mound.
"Definitely at the start of the game I was a little wheezy out there, but by the time I got to like the fourth inning I felt pretty good,” Ginn said. “It’s always a fun time to go out there and compete against them whether it’s at home or here. I like the ballpark. I like the mound, so it’s good.”
Kotsay praised his starter for gutting through an uncomfortable evening.
“He likes pitching here. He’s had a lot of success,” Kotsay said. “It’s a good sign when he’s not feeling great and gives us six innings.”
The Angels scratched out the game's first run in the fourth when Donovan Walton singled home Wade Meckler, who had doubled and advanced to third on one of Langeliers' two passed balls.
Jo Adell briefly cut into the Athletics' advantage with a two-run homer in the fifth, trimming the deficit to 7-3, but the Angels could get no closer.
Kurtz continued his bounce-back night with an RBI single in the seventh before scoring on Jonah Heim's ground-rule double to stretch the lead to 9-3.
Kurtz, Bolte and McNeil each finished with two RBIs as nine of the Athletics' 10 hits were singles, underscoring an offensive approach built on consistent contact rather than power.
The Angels mounted one final threat in the eighth, loading the bases against reliever Hogan Harris. But Harris responded by striking out Logan O'Hoppe and Christian Moore to extinguish the rally and preserve the six-run cushion.
"Hogan has pitched in some big moments for us,” Kotsay said. “Obviously you never want to walk a leadoff guy when you come in there, but with the bases loaded, two big punchouts, it’s something that we’ve seen from him.”
For the Angels, the loss wasted another promising start from Ureña, who had completely silenced Oakland through four innings before one disastrous frame spoiled his outing. The defeat continued a frustrating stretch for Los Angeles, while the Athletics left Anaheim with momentum after another convincing division victory.