Angels score five in second inning, but can’t hold off Oakland Athletics
Luis Rengifo had a two-run double in a five-run second inning for the Angels, but it wasn’t enough as their four-game win streak ended with a 6-5 loss to Oakland on Thursday at Angel Stadium.
Daz Cameron put Oakland on top with a two-run homer off Angels starter Kenny Rosenberg (0-1) in the fourth inning, and Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker both hit their ninth home run in July as the Athletics continued their power surge. They entered Friday having hit 21 homers over eight games and 135 on the season, which ranked fourth in the majors.
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.”
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.
Oakland’s Ross Stripling (2-9), activated before the game after missing two months because of a strained 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 save.
Butler entered Friday leading the majors with 26 RBIs in July and was 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.
Rooker, who entered Friday batting .403 this month, third best in the majors. He extended Oakland’s lead to 2-0 in the first with a solo shot to left.
The Angels sent nine to the plate and grabbed a 5-2 lead in the second. Rengifo’s double gave them a three-run lead. O’Hoppe and Zach Neto had RBI singles and Mickey Moniak had a sacrifice fly.
In the third, Butler drove a cutter from Rosenberg over the wall in center for two runs to get the A’s within 5-4.
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.
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.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
