Daz Cameron hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the fourth inning Thursday night for the visiting Oakland Athletics, who edged the Los Angeles Angels 6–5 in the opener of a four-game series.
Brent Rooker hit a solo homer in the first inning and Lawrence Butler added a two-run blast in the third for the Athletics, who have won six of eight to improve to 12–7 this month.
Butler stole third base in the first and scored on a throwing error by Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe just before Rooker’s round-tripper.
Butler and Max Schuemann had two hits apiece for Oakland. Schuemann also stole a base.
The Angels, who scored all of their runs in the second inning, had their four-game winning streak end. O'Hoppe and Zach Neto had RBI singles and Mickey Moniak lofted a sacrifice fly before Luis Rengifo laced a two-run double.
Kevin Pillar had two hits and a stolen base for the Angels. Neto added a stolen base.
Ross Stripling (2–9), who was activated from the injured list prior to the game, earned the win after allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three over 5 2/3 innings.
It was the first victory since May 1 for Stripling, who was 0–4 with a 9.98 ERA in his following four starts before being shelved in late May due to a right elbow strain.
A quartet of A’s relievers combined to allow one hit over the final 3 1/3 innings. Rookie Tyler Ferguson, pitching the ninth inning hours after All-Star closer Mason Miller was placed on the injured list with a fractured left pinky finger, earned his first major league save by striking out two in a perfect ninth.
Angels starter Kenny Rosenberg (0–1) gave up all six runs on six hits and one walk while striking out one over 3 1/3 innings. Four Los Angeles relievers combined to blank the Athletics on three hits over the final 5 2/3 innings.
