Shohei Ohtani homered, Patrick Sandoval gave up one run in 6 1/3 innings and the Los Angeles Angels beat the host Oakland Athletics 4-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Ohtani’s eighth home run of the season came in the first inning against A’s starter Frankie Montas, with Ohtani getting ahold of a 95-mph sinker that didn’t sink. It gave the Angels a 2-0 lead and was all that Montas allowed.
Montas (2-4) gave up two runs and four hits in six innings, striking out a season-high 12, but it wasn’t good enough because of the performance by Sandoval (2-1). The Angels’ lefty gave up one run on four hits and four walks in his 6 1/3 innings, striking out four and making a season-high 101 pitches.
The only run Sandoval allowed came in the third inning after Jed Lowrie led off with a walk and went to second on a single by Ramon Laureano. Lowrie went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Chad Pinder, and scored on Sean Murphy’s groundout.
The Angels took an early lead when Mike Trout singled with one out in the first inning and Ohtani followed with his home run. After the A’s cut their deficit to 2-1, the Angels added to their lead with some clutch hitting.
In the eighth, Taylor Ward led off with a single and two outs later was on third base. Anthony Rendon then scored Ward with a two-out RBI single.
In the ninth, Brandon Marsh led off with a single and two outs later was on third when Andrew Velazquez doubled into the right-field corner to increase the Angels’ lead to 4-1.
Jimmy Herget relieved Sandoval in the seventh and threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first career save.
Ward and Rendon each had two hits for the Angels. The A’s finished with just five hits, including two by Pinder.
–Field Level Media