Oakland Athletics Series Opener vs Angels
Matt Olson Launches Walk-off Grand Slam in Opening Day
Oakland Athletics’ Matt Olson, left, hits a grand slam home run in front of Los Angeles Angels catcher Jason Castro in the tenth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Friday, July 24, 2020. The Athletics won 7-3 in 10 innings. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2020.07.24 – The Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Angels played the first extra inning series opener of the 2020 season. Matt Olson hit the first Opening Day walk-off grand slam in the 10th to give the A’s a 7-3 opening day win.
In the first major league game with the new, extra-inning rule – automatic runner, Marcus Semien began the bottom of the 10th on second base and scored on Matt Olson’s grand slam, sending Oakland over Los Angeles on Friday night.
“I was visualizing it in my head,” Olson said. “When it happened, I was chill about it. But I was pumped up.”
Olson, whose alert throw from first base nailed Angels free runner Shohei Ohtani in the top of the 10th, connected with one out.
Major League Baseball instituted the extra-inning runner rule for this season to keep games from dragging on amid a compressed, 60-game schedule due to the Coronavirus pandemic outbreak.
After Semien took second, the A’s loaded the bases against Hansel Robles (0-1) on a hit by pitch, wild pitch and a walk.
New Angels manager Joe Maddon brought in reliever Hoby Milner and, with a five-man infield in place, Olson hit the first pitch far over the right-field wall.
2020.07.24 (Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels) See video
2020.07.24 (Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels) See video
According to STATS, Olson became the third player to hit a walkoff grand slam on opening day. He joined Sixto Lezcano (1980 Brewers) and Jim Presley (1986, Mariners).
“He has a flair for the dramatic,” manager Bob Melvin said.
Burch Smith (1-0) went one inning for the win.
The game went to the 10th tied at 3 after Jason Castro’s tying homer in the ninth against A’s closer Liam Hendriks.
OLSON’S GRAND SLAM
Much has been said about the A’s sterling corner infield tandem. The Matts, Chapman and Olson, can combine for infield defensive wizardry — with help from shortstop Marcus Semien.
All that talk went into action in the 10th inning. Angels two-way player Shohei Ohtani was the first batter placed at second base to kick off this new extra inning rule.
Chapman and Olson had been discussing for weeks how to execute a play against a lefty with a runner in scoring position. Almost visualizing it.
Left-handed pinch hitter Jared Walsh hit a screamer into Olson’s glove, and in a half-second Olson turned and flipped it to Chapman, who executed a seamless pick, got into a pickle and Ohtani out, scrambling, gunning for third.
“We talk about it a bunch,” Olson said. “I feel like (Chapman) is athletic enough to get over to the bag, and I have a good enough arm to get it across for an out.”
A’s COLD AS ICE
The A’s were cold as ice through the first three innings, looking about as frozen as they did against the 18 San Francisco Giants pitchers they faced in the exhibition games.
One hot streak snapped the cold against Angels’ left-handed starter Andrew Heaney: Ramón Laureano’s blazing home run shot into the left field seats, hit with a 110 mph exit velocity. It was the A’s first hit and first run of the regular season, and it interrupted a dismal bout of average at bats.
Down a run in the eighth against Ty Buttrey, Laureano blasted a double down the first base line at 103 mph, scoring Semien to tie it. Matt Chapman followed that with a 102 mph triple off the right field wall, scoring Laureano to give the A’s their first lead.
Though the offense started cold, there were signs of a breakthrough early. In his first at bat, Khris Davis hit a fastball to the warning track at 100 mph exit velocity. Chapman hit a pair of 100 mph line outs. Mark Canha hit a 101 mph pop out.
There was some decent contact there. And coaches new it would be a matter of time until the bats would catch up, timing wise. The slugging A’s we saw mid-2019 showed up a little late, but not too late.
NOTES
Liam Hendriks’ fastball velocity was a few ticks below normal. The 95-plus mph fastball he threw consistently last year was clocking in a little below 95 mph for the most part. He shoulders the A’s first blown save after allowing a game-tying home run to Jason Castro in the ninth inning.
Chapman made a rare error, which brought home an Angels’ go-ahead run.
UP NEXT
Athletics: LHP Sean Manaea will start for Oakland in the second game of a three-game series at Oakland on Saturday 1pm PT.
Angles: RHP Dylan Bundy is scheduled to start for Los Angeles at Oakland in the second of three games with the Oakland Athletics.
RELATED: See below 2020.07.25 (Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels)
Read more at: Oakland Athletics Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Oakland Athletics, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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Bundy makes impressive Angels debut, beating Athletics 4-1
Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Upton (10) is congratulated by Albert Pujols after hitting a solo home run against the Oakland Athletics during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, July 25, 2020. Athletics catcher Austin Allen, right, looks on. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2020.07.25 – Dylan Bundy pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning in his Angels debut and Justin Upton homered to lead Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.
Bundy (1-0) allowed one run, three hits, no walks and hit one batter in 6 2/3 innings as part of an impressive first start after being acquired from Baltimore in a trade last December.
“I don’t really try to put any extra pressure on or anything,” Bundy said. “I just try to go out and compete like I’ve always done. I love to compete in the game of baseball.”
The performance helped the Angels bounce back from an extra-inning loss in the opener. Upton hit a solo homer off Sean Manaea, and Andrelton Simmons and David Fletcher also had run-scoring hits for Los Angeles.
Bundy had seven strikeouts and needed only 90 pitches in an efficient performance. He was replaced after allowing a two-out double to Stephen Piscotty in the seventh.
2020.07.25 (Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels) See video
2020.07.25 (Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels) See video
Robbie Grossman hit an RBI single off Keynan Middleton to get the A’s on the board.
Hansel Robles pitched the ninth for his first save after taking the loss in the opener.
Manaea looked sharp early, retiring the first 11 batters on just 32 pitches. Then he ran into trouble and couldn’t even make it out of the fifth inning.
“He was great. I mean, what did he have, 39 or 40 pitches going into the fifth?” manager Bob Melvin said. “It just happened pretty quickly with three batters that he got some balls in the middle of the plate, which he hadn’t been doing, and the next thing you know we had to get him out. But I was really encouraged by the way he threw compared to maybe what we saw in the Bay Bridge series.”
Upton broke through with a solo homer with two outs in the fourth to get the Angels on the board. Manaea then allowed three straight hits with two outs in the fifth. Simmons hit an RBI double and Fletcher added a two-run double that knocked out Manaea and made it 4-0.
“We just kept after him,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said. “It wasn’t like we were having awful at-bats. He was just on top of his game and strike throwing was real accurate for him. Upton’s homer dented him a little bit.”
The A’s failed in their attempt to start a season 2-0 for the first time since 2004.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: New 3B Anthony Rendon took some grounders and swings before the game as he works his way back from an oblique injury.
Athletics: The A’s are mostly healthy outside of starter A.J. Puk, who is out for at least two weeks with a shoulder injury.
HARD-THROWING LUZARDO
Hard-throwing A’s reliever Jesus Luzardo had an impressive season debut in relief. He struck out two in three scoreless innings. Luzardo was sharp as a late-season call-up last year with two saves and a 1.50 ERA in six relief appearances and is being counted on in a bigger role this season.
UP NEXT
Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani is set to make his first appearance on the mound since Sept. 2, 2018, after not pitching last season following elbow surgery. Ohtani is expected to be the Sunday starter for the Angels this season and is under no pitch limit. Mike Fiers will start for the A’s in his first appearance since revealing to The Athletic in November that his former team, the Houston Astros, had stolen signs using a camera in center field during their run to the 2017 World Series championship
RELATED: See below 2020.07.26 (Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels)
Read more at: Oakland Athletics Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Oakland Athletics, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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Oakland Athletics Blast Angels’ Ohtani in Return to Mound
Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani (17) walks toward the dugout after being relieved during the first inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, July 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2020.07.26 – Shohei Ohtani didn’t record an out in his long-awaited return to the mound for the Los Angeles Angels, allowing the first six Oakland Athletics batters to blast him before his day was done in a 6-4 loss on Sunday.
The way things started, Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon couldn’t see the day getting any better for his Japanese two-way star.
Ohtani was back on the mound after nearly 23 months, he hardly felt comfortable. Rather rusty, in fact, the ball leaving his hand without the purpose and feel he is so accustomed to.
He may be available as designated hitter in Monday’s series finale.
“I felt like I was ready,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “Looking back, I felt like I couldn’t throw with all my strength. There’s a lot of things I’ll look back on and work on on the pitching side, but we have another game tomorrow and I still have a chance to play so I’ve got to change my focus to tomorrow’s game.”
2020.07.26 (Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels) See video
2020.07.26 (Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels) See video
The right-hander was blasted by Marcus Semien’s leadoff single and three straight walks before a mound visit and Mark Canha’s two-run single. Robbie Grossman singled in another run, and Maddon replaced Ohtani (0-1) with Matt Andriese down 4-0.
“He just didn’t throw the ball very well,” Maddon said. “It just wasn’t his day. The fastball wasn’t coming out, there was no deception in his pitches. These are major league hitters. Walks were a big part of that.”
The Angels wasted a big day by Mike Trout, who hit a three-run homer in the third and a sacrifice fly in the fifth. David Fletcher wound up with four hits.
Yusmeiro Petit (1-0) worked out of a fifth-inning jam in relief of Mike Fiers for the win, and Liam Hendriks earned a four-out save after blowing a chance in Friday night’s 10-inning victory.
“It was a good bounce-back one,” Hendriks said.
This was a long time coming for the Angels and 2018 AL Rookie of the Year Ohtani, who took visible deep breaths between pitches. Ohtani made his first appearance on the mound since Sept. 2, 2018 after not pitching last season following Tommy John elbow surgery.
“Again, this is a young man coming off of a severe injury and right now requires all of our patience,” Maddon said.
Ohtani threw 30 pitches, reaching 94.7 mph with his fastball — he averaged 96.7 mph and touched 100 mph in 2018.
“Not so much for the mechanics but I just didn’t get that feel for the game back,” Ohtani said. “Today I just felt like I was throwing the ball rather than pitching. Just a little rust and I need to come up with a game plan so I can get efficient outs.”
He is expected to be the Sunday starter for the Angels this season and was under no pitch limit. Maddon insists he’s invested in Ohtani being a rare two-way player for what it also means to fans in Japan who have supported his quest. He will also make sure Ohtani stays healthy first.
“I’m looking forward to the day we can get a little bit more aggressive with him. I know he is, too,” Maddon said before the game.
Ohtani batted last season but didn’t pitch as he built his arm strength back up after surgery. He went 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA over 10 starts and 51 2/3 innings in 2018 as a rookie.
“You go up there early in the game maybe expecting a little bit more as far as the (velocity) goes,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “Coming off an injury, we really weren’t sure what to expect. We know he is an absolute terrific talent but probably didn’t have his best stuff, certainly didn’t have his best command today.”
Fiers gave up consecutive singles to Fletcher and Trout to start the game before getting three straight flyballs.
This was Fiers’ first outing since he revealed to The Athletic in November that his former Houston Astros club had stolen signs using a camera in center field during its run to the 2017 World Series championship.
The right-hander pitched his second career no-hitter last season and went 15-4, then didn’t get the ball for an AL wild-card loss to Tampa Bay when Melvin went with lefty Sean Manaea.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: New 3B Anthony Rendon went through a workout on the field. He could be used as designated hitter initially once healthy to play after dealing with an oblique injury. “DH is open. It’s possible he could DH first, I can’t deny that,” Maddon said.
UP NEXT
RHP Griffin Canning pitches the wraparound series finale Monday afternoon opposite Oakland RHP Chris Bassitt, who is in the rotation for now with left-hander A.J. Puk sidelined by a strained throwing shoulder.
RELATED: See below 2020.07.27 (Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels)
Read more at: Oakland Athletics Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Oakland Athletics, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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Matt Olson’s CoronaVirus Alert at Oakland Opener
Oakland Athletics’ Matt Olson (28) wears a mask as Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, left, also wears one while taking a lead off first base during the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, July 27, 2020, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
2020.07.27 – Oakland Athletics’s first baseman Matt Olson began wearing a mask at his position as word spread around baseball that a Coronavirus outbreak is happening among Miami Marlins players.
The Oakland Athletics beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 on Monday as the teams concluded their season-opening series.
On the first game between the two teams, Olson seal the game with a huge grand slam, now he was seen chatting with Mike Trout — also masked up — in the top of the eighth after the Angels star drew a walk from Jake Diekman.
A’s manager Bob Melvin said it was important for his players to be even more diligent with safety protocols.
“I think today, I don’t want to say it scared everybody, but maybe a little. This is kind of the thing you were hoping wasn’t going to happen,” Melvin said. “Today was a different level as far as how you think about it. We’re not the only clubhouse that is probably thinking that way.”
2020.07.27 (Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels) See video
2020.07.27 (Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels) See video
Chris Bassitt (1-0) worked out of a bases-loaded predicament in the fourth when he threw out Tommy La Stella at the plate to start an inning-ending double play. Bassitt, a 10-game winner last season who is in the rotation for now, pumped his fist as he walked off the field.
Ramon Laureano gave Oakland the lead on a sacrifice fly in the third before Matt Chapman’s RBI double.
Mark Canha homered for the first time this season, Right-hander Griffin Canning (0-1) surrendered Canha’s drive to start the fourth just after the Angels’ missed opportunity in the top half of the inning.
Yusmeiro Petit struck out David Fletcher in an 11-pitch at-bat to end the seventh. Joakim Soria allowed a pair of singles before closing it out for his first save, retiring Trout on a 93-mph called third strike that the slugger argued. He removed his batting helmet while speaking to plate umpire Adam Hamari. Maddon also had a word with the umpire.
“That pitch there we thought was high. I don’t know what it showed in the box, which sometimes is not accurate,” Maddon said. “But of course there was frustration. The guys are playing hard. We care. You’ve got the right guy up in the situation. And to get called out like that on a pitch that was questionable, it was bothersome. But you’ve got to put it away.”
Closer Liam Hendriks rested after recording a four-out save Sunday and pitching in Friday’s season opener.
The A’s took three of four from the Angels and won their opening series of a season for the first time since 2010, when they won three of four against the Mariners.
Shohei Ohtani went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts as designated hitter a day after failing to record an out during his first start on the mound in nearly 23 months. Slugger Albert Pujols, who at 40 made his 20th consecutive opening day start Friday night, singled in the second for his first hit of 2020 and wound up 1 for 12 with a walk during the series.
Right-hander Griffin Canning (0-1) surrendered Canha’s drive to start the fourth just after the Angels’ missed opportunity in the top half of the inning.
CLIMBING THE RANKS
Slugger Khris Davis played his 355th game as Oakland’s designated hitter, tying him for second most in A’s history with Mitchell Page and trailing Dave Kingman’s 428.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: Maddon gave 3B Anthony Rendon one more day to rest his oblique injury. Rendon could make his Angels debut as soon as Tuesday in the home opener or at least by Wednesday. “He’s trending properly and he should be ready to play relatively soon,” Maddon said.
ROSTER MOVE
The A’s released RHP Daniel Gossett, who was designated for assignment Thursday, and added RHP Ben Bracewell to their player pool. He was assigned to the club’s alternate site in San Jose.
UP NEXT
RHP Daniel Mengden, in the rotation while left-hander A.J. Puk is sidelined by a strained throwing shoulder, makes his 2020 debut when the A’s open a two-game home series with the Colorado Rockies. Angels lefty Patrick Sandoval pitches for Los Angeles in its home opener Tuesday night vs. Seattle.
RELATED: See below 2020.07.29 (Oakland Athletics vs. Colorado Rockies)
Read more at: Oakland Athletics Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Oakland Athletics, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
EMI Sports Central – EMI Sports Bay Area: Join the conversation on sports news for SF Bay Area teams: Follow @EMIsports on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for our FREE email newsletters.