Oakland’s Joey Estes shuts out the Angels

Joey Estes pitched Oakland’s first individual shutout in more than three years and the Athletics beat the Angels 5-0 on Wednesday night.

Estes (3-3) threw 68 of his 92 pitches for strikes, limiting the Angels to five singles and a walk with four strikeouts in the first complete game of his career.

“It’s an unreal feeling,” he said. “I’m still just kind of processing it myself and just kind of enjoying what this feels like.”

The right-hander induced three double plays and struck out Taylor Ward swinging to end the game.

“I don’t know if you saw, I went crazy,” Estes said of his celebration. “I didn’t know how to feel. It was my first time going through it, so definitely a lot of emotion. I was into it. It’s something you dream of.”

It was the 16th complete game in the major leagues this season, 10 of them shutouts.

The last Oakland pitcher to toss a shutout was Sean Manaea, who blanked the Mariners on June 2, 2021.

“For him to go nine, it’s a testament to the mentality and the mindset that he has,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said.

“The focus and concentration, and the competitor that he is, that’s what it takes to finish a game.”

Brent Rooker had three hits including a homer and Max Schuemann also homered.

“It’s a great team win,” Rooker said. “I think it’s just an example of how good a team we can be when we put things together and play well.”

The A’s benefited from some shaky Angels defense to score two runs in the second inning. With runners on first and third, Brett Harris hit a comebacker that should have been an inning-ending double play, but Davis Daniel’s low throw to second base ended up in center field, allowing Zack Gelof to score.

Later in the inning, Harris attempted to steal second, drawing a throw from catcher Matt Thaiss. Lawrence Butler sprinted home before Harris was tagged out to make it 2-0.

Schuemann took Daniel deep in the fifth.

“He missed up and in, hung one a little bit, and I took advantage of it,” Schuemann said.

Rooker connected for his 17th homer in the sixth. Harris added an RBI single later in the inning.

Daniel (1-1) gave up five runs (four earned) and seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Angels third baseman Luis Rengifo left because of an apparent right hand injury after a foul ball in the ninth inning. Rengifo fouled the ball straight back, then shook his hand in pain. He was briefly examined by manager Ron Washington and a trainer before walking to the dugout.

“We’re still evaluating,” Washington said. “We didn’t come up with anything yet. ... He just said that his wrist was hurting. That’s it. So until we get something definite, that’s all I know.”

The Angels announced before the game that third baseman Anthony Rendon (left hamstring strain) is scheduled to face live pitching this weekend. Washington is hopeful he can return next week.

Up next

Right-hander Roansy Contreras (1-0, 3.82 ERA) makes his second start for the Angels on Thursday. The A’s counter with left-hander JP Sears (4-7, 5.00), who has lost four straight decisions.