Angels score five in second inning, but can’t hold off Oakland Athletics
Luis Rengifo had a two-run double during a five-run second inning for the Angels, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a loss to the visiting Oakland Athletics.
Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker both hit their ninth home run in July, and the Athletics continued their power surge with a 6-5 victory over the Angels on Thursday night.
The Angels had won four in a row entering the contest.
Daz Cameron put Oakland on top with a two-run shot in the fourth inning off Angels starter Kenny Rosenberg (0-1). The Athletics have hit 21 homers over the last eight games and their 135 for the season are fourth in the majors.
Mike Trout is returning to Anaheim for evaluation following an injury flare-up. The Angels won without him Wednesday, completing a sweep of the Mariners.
Butler and Rooker’s nine homers in July are tied for third in the majors.
“Overall this group has been swinging the bats really well and it showed tonight,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “We got down, we were able to to come back and hold the lead.”
Oakland’s Ross Stripling (2-9), activated before the game after missing two months because of a strained right elbow, snapped a four-game losing streak. The right-hander went 5-2/3 innings and gave up five runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Rookie Tyler Ferguson retired the Angels in order in the ninth for his first major league save.
Butler leads the majors with 26 RBIs in July and is second with a .412 batting average. He led off the game with a double, stole third and scored when Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe’s throw was wide of the bag.
Butler then drove a cutter from Rosenberg over the wall in center for two runs to get the Athletics within 5-4 in the second inning.
Angels star Mike Trout lasted just two innings in his first minor league rehabilitation start because of soreness in his surgically-repaired left knee.
“They had a big inning. [Max] Schuemann got on like he always does and I was just trying to keep it going for the team. I just happened to hit a two-run homer to get us back in the game,” Butler said.
Rooker is batting .403 this month, third best in the majors. He extended Oakland’s lead to 2-0 in the first inning with a solo shot beyond the bullpens in left field.
The Angels sent nine to the plate and grabbed a 5-2 lead in the second inning. Rengifo’s two-run double gave the Angels a three-run lead. Earlier in the inning, O’Hoppe and Zach Neto had RBI base hits and Mickey Moniak added a sacrifice fly.
Rosenberg gave up six runs on six hits in 3-1/3 innings in his first start of the season.
“Thing is when we make mistakes in the wrong part of the plate with pitches, they’re not missing,” manager Ron Washington said. “We put the five on the board, if we could just got a shut-down inning, but then they got two. Then in the fourth they got two more and that was the ballgame.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mike Trout (left knee) saw doctors on Thursday after his rehab stint in Salt Lake City was cut short. Trout left Tuesday’s game in the second inning due to knee soreness.
UP NEXT
Right-hander Carson Fulmer (0-2, 3.66 ERA) will get the start for the Angels. Athletics right-hander Paul Blackburn (3-2, 4.11 ERA) is expected to be activated off the injured list after missing two months because of a right foot injury.
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