Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani delivers to the Oakland A’s lineup at the Big A in Anheim in the first inning on Thu Sep 29, 2022 (AP News photo)
Angels Sweep Oakland Winning 4-2 A’s 100th loss of the season
By Barbara Mason
Thursday night the Oakland A’s (56-100) faced Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels (70-86) in game three of their series. The A’s were trying to avoid a sweep but with Ohtani on the mound for the Halo’s it would turn out to be a tall order.
Los Angeles got on the scoreboard early in this game. Luis Rengifo homered and Ohtani singled driving in Mike Trout for a 2-0 lead.
In the third inning, Taylor Ward homered extending the Angels lead 3-0. The Halo’s knocked a third home run out of the park in the sixth inning off the bat of Max Stassi now leading 4-0. Los Angeles had 12 hits through six innings and the A’s were still looking for their first hit in this game. They were not even close to figuring Ohtani out who already had eight strikeouts.
Ohtani was looking for his 15th win of the year which looked more and more likely as this game wore on. Going into the seventh inning his pitch count was at 72 and still no hits for Oakland.
In the eighth inning the A’s Connor Capel got the A’s their first hit of the game. Next up at the plate was Dermis Garcia who got a second hit for Oakland. The A’s had put an end to Ohtani’s bid for a no-hitter.
The A’s loaded the bases in the ninth inning and Nick Allen scored off a Seth Brown ground out to second. Jonah Bride scored on a wild pitch but it was too little too late. The final was 4-2 and unfortunately this was loss number 100 for the A’s. They were swept but avoided getting shutout. This was the second time in A’s history that they lost 100 games in a season.
It was a tough start for Oakland’s Cole Irvin. He went four innings and allowed nine hits, three runs with six strikeouts. Collin Wiles relieved him in the fifth inning. He got the job done allowing only one hit and no runs. Norge Ruiz relieved in the sixth and seventh innings allowing three hits and one run. Sam Selman would close for Oakland.
The A’s will finish the season against the Angels after their series with the Mariners. Those final three games will be played at the Coliseum. Will we see Shohei Ohtani in that series? We will have to wait on that one.
Friday night the A’s will head up to Seattle to take on the Mariners. Ken Waldichuk (1-2, 7.15) will take the mound for Oakland. Seattle will start Logan Gilbert (13-6, 3.29). First pitch will be at 6:40 PM PT.
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