BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER
Jumping out to a 5-0 first inning lead before Shohei Ohtani could record an out, the A’s rode five shut out innings from their bullpen to record a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum.
In what had the potential to be a marquee early-season pitching matchup featuring Oakland ace Mike Fiers going up against Ohtani, the Angels right hander was wild from the start and didn’t record an out, giving up three hits along with three walks on just 30 pitches against the six batters he faced in his first pitching appearance since September 2018.
The A’s overcame a three-run home run by the Angels Mike Trout in the third, his first of the year. Trout finished the day with four RBI’s, driving in all of the Los Angeles runs.
Mark Canha, batting fifth, dropped a two RBI single to right center to put Oakland up 3-0, a lead they would never relinquish. Sean Murphy blasted a 448 foot missile to left-center in the sixth to produce the games final run. Liam Hendriks, the A’s sixth pitcher of the game, came on with two outs in the eighth and proceeded to retire the four batters he faced for his first save of the young season.
The two teams return to action Monday afternoon in the conclusion of the four game series with Oakland’s Chris Bassitt facing the Angels Griffin Canning. First pitch is at 12:40 PM