SA Unsure On Quinton De Kock's T20I Future: 'We Have A Glimmer Of Hope That Sits In The Background'
OAKLAND, Calif. -- — Lawrence Butler homered, JP Sears won for the first time in more than a month, and the Oakland Athletics blanked the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday for a second straight game by the same 5-0 score to complete a three-game series sweep.
Miguel Andujar and Brent Rooker hit back-to-back RBI singles in the third and Tyler Soderstrom added a sacrifice fly in the decisive inning on a hot Independence Day in the Bay Area, with an announced holiday crowd of 11,956.
Oakland's pitching shut down an Angels lineup that had been on quite an offensive run.
“This offense that we faced had scored five or more runs in (seven) consecutive games, they had won six of their last seven, they swept us in Anaheim, beat a Detroit team at home, came here really confident and really swinging the bats well," A's manager Mark Kotsay said. “So our pitching staff really did a great job this series of controlling their offense, keeping the guys that had really been providing the offense at check and not giving away free bases.”
Sears (5-7) struck out six and walked one, allowing two hits over five innings to snap a six-start winless stretch since beating Houston on May 25. The left-hander had dropped his previous four decisions.
“It's contagious, you just want to do what the guy did before you,” Sears said.
The Angels lost a fourth straight game coming off a 5-0 shutout Wednesday. They were shut out in consecutive games for the first time since June 20-21, 2023 at home against the Dodgers.
The club now has a six-game losing streak at the Coliseum.
"It was just a tough overall series," said center fielder Kevin Pillar, who made several sparkling catches and said he was close to snagging Butler's eighth inning drive. “We were playing really good baseball at home, you got that off day, you come here, just playing these guys not a lot of secrets.”
Right-hander Roansy Contreras (1-1) walked two of the first three batters in the third to get in trouble, then gave up the run-scoring singles and a sacrifice fly before another walk — and that was it in his second start for the Angels. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings.
The Angels played the first of four straight day games as they head to Chicago to face the Cubs — their first visit to Wrigley Field since 2019.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: OF Mike Trout hit on the field off a tee during Monday's off day and is running on a treadmill as he recovers from a torn meniscus in his left knee. Manager Ron Washington saw the video and said “he looked natural.” ... 3B Luis Rengifo was feeling better after exiting a night earlier with an injury on his lower right arm near the wrist after fouling a ball off it in the ninth inning. ... 3B Anthony Rendon (left hamstring strain) will return to regular third base duties when healthy, with some games at designated hitter as needed, Washington said.
Athletics: LHP Kyle Muller has rejoined the team from his rehab assignment and is expected to be activated from the injured list this weekend after dealing with tendinitis in his pitching shoulder.
UP NEXT
RHP Griffin Canning (3-8, 4.71 ERA) takes the mound for the Angels in the series opener with the Cubs. LHP Hogan Harris (1-2, 3.18) pitches for the A's in Friday’s series opener against Baltimore, which counters with RHP Albert Suárez (4-2, 2.43).
------
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
220RA071070 ROSEGOLD 1 1 1 1 800x ?v=1580345409B765d199353fb0cd6c7e03ee15009b9d A7cf6ade6cc7d7adee328fc4ae5de871 8efff7983f8d04eba2ecefc1929f955b 310dce7ac4641fd8de08ab02134f5333 1d8382f2a1b128799b2c7b4c392b8c29 Fitted Dresses Elegant Dresses Herrlich Turkische Abendkleider Vorne Kurz Hinten Lang 768x1145 05259379d4bedcda4df608ac0761d758 31a9b81b0c9e1b73110c1d850726b190 7a9ed0f7baf990c90f8f657366f4a048 20a60c9810269b49d7d3dcc91d338863 77cdcaac D5ff 47a7 Bd5e 7c6dfd6516031651608964481EavanRoseGoldEmbellishedGeorgetteMaxiDress1 EG1s0PbJV Rose Gold Bridesmaid Dresses With Lace Top 537x1200 43ffba8ba5b145d20293699886cd129f Rose Gold Wedding Dress Idea 11847335 Fpx 772bb58369484c56a180e17491fe32a4 52b2ad17d5c0f699a0fa3ea377dbda9d Rose Gold Bridesmaid Dresses Pexels 6b138275a5b4167ef157fe2517c85468 1 8e76103f7dbb44bbb9639fd790afe142 F98d56ae0e584b809c63c70de5b8b1c2 A44a6ff4f281907e3907a65e069cd8ee Il Fullxfull.3934480193 Ig3g 6f7103996085037d727776fbfc7b832d 256A0725 9aa4a91b Dc50 48be 9a80 1501ad5304cd ?v%5Cu003d15317965571f7cb5267b00d1c0d3cba7bd3feedfc7 Elegant Rose Gold Asymmetrical Evening Dress Sheer Neck High Low Prom Dress With Appliques Illusion Top 74e4348107c3bfb21fc14808b317d405 Rose Gold Bridesmaid Dresses Blush Beaded Mother Of The Bride Dress With Short Sleeves 1 700x1073 Rose Gold Bridal Party Dresses Brides Tout D1ea7a81bf7b4796b87fc3277a86cc32 Gold Dress Princesa By Ariana Vara Pr21951 Crystal Sweetheart Ballgown Quinceanera Dresses 28132916330579 720x 13208.1634390788 ?c=21 8e76103f7dbb44bbb9639fd790afe142 F98d56ae0e584b809c63c70de5b8b1c2 3 70169947379a4c0da88d30594e8a7e43 09b8cf62e319494584dbc62de3f10a84