A’s Rally to Complete Series Sweep With a 10–6 Victory Over the Angels

Oakland Athletics' Tony Kemp (R), watches his two-run single that scored Ryan Noda and Zack Gelof during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Oakland, Calif., on Sept. 3, 2023. Jeff Chiu/AP Photo

OAKLAND, Calif.—Pinch-hitter Tony Kemp had a two-run single that put Oakland ahead in a six-run seventh inning, and the Athletics rallied past the Los Angeles Angels 10–6 on Sunday to finish a three-game sweep.

Shea Langeliers added a two-run double for Oakland. Ryan Noda and pinch-hitter Seth Brown each launched a two-run homer in the sixth to begin the comeback after the last-place A’s were held hitless through five innings.

“Getting something going there in the sixth was a good sign,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “The momentum of the at-bats, they kind of feed off each other. The next thing you know we’re back in the game and taking a lead.”

Oakland blew a 4–3 lead in the top of the seventh on Luis Rengifo’s 15th home run before storming back in the bottom half.

Zack Gelof singled with one out, and Angels reliever José Soriano (0–1) fielded Noda’s sharp comebacker but turned and threw the ball wildly into center field for an error. Brent Rooker walked to load the bases before Kemp’s single gave the A’s a 6–4 lead. Rooker also scored on the play following a throwing error by center fielder Mickey Moniak.

Brown was intentionally walked before Langeliers drove in a pair with a first-pitch double to right.

“It takes one pitch to get going in the box,” Noda said. “Hitting is contagious. We love when it’s contagious on the positive side for us. We’re going to keep building off today, keep growing, and hopefully it doesn’t take us until the sixth inning to get going.”

Oakland has won three straight for the second time this season. It was the third series sweep this year for the A’s (42–95).

The Angels scored twice in the ninth and had two runners on before Trevor May got pinch-hitter Mike Moustakas to strike out swinging for his 17th save.

Francisco Pérez (1–1), the third of five relievers used by Kotsay, retired two batters for his first career win. The first out Pérez got was was a five-pitch swinging strikeout of two-way Japanese star Shohei Ohtani, who is tied for the major league lead with 44 home runs.

“It feels awesome,” Pérez said. “Striking out Ohtani, that’s a tough guy to get out, but nothing is impossible to do. We just made the right pitches and executed.”

Rengifo, who had an RBI single in the ninth, extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games.

Earlier in the day, Angels catcher Max Stassi announced he would miss the entire 2023 season because of a serious family medical issue.

The last-place A’s couldn’t muster much offense against Tyler Anderson early and got their first hit off the left-hander after a video replay overturned a call.

The change came one pitch before Noda crushed a first-pitch fastball from Anderson over the wall in center.

“There’s still a lot of growth to go but I’m going to keep going and keep grinding with the boys,” Noda said.

After Carlos Pérez singled to chase Anderson with one out, Brown hit the second two-run homer of the inning for the A’s, a pinch-hit drive off Andrew Wantz to make it 4–3.

Rengifo tied it with a solo home run off Adrián Martínez in the seventh.

Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani walks to the dugout after striking out against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., on Sept. 3, 2023. Jeff Chiu/AP Photo

Rookie Honor

Moments after the game ended, Gelof was named AL Rookie of the Month for August. Gelof made several big plays Sunday, including legging out an infield single that began the A’s rally in the sixth.

Gelof also made a nice grab of Moniak’s sharp grounder up the middle, then threw to first for the out.

“It’s been a tough season but there are some bright spots and this is definitely a bright spot for us as a group and as an organization,” Kotsay said. “He plays with an intensity and you saw that with the infield single.”

For Starters

Anderson dominated the A’s early. He retired nine of the first 10 batters and pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fourth. Anderson allowed three hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings.

A’s starter Kyle Muller had three strikeouts in four innings and allowed three runs on five hits.

Trainer’s Room

Angels: C Matt Thaiss was activated off the injured list after he missed eight games with right shoulder inflammation. INF Andrew Velazquez was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake.

Athletics: Top prospect Mason Miller (forearm tightness) had four strikeouts in three scoreless innings during a rehab start with Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday. Miller threw 22 of his 37 pitches for strikes.

Up Next

Angels: LHP Kenny Rosenberg (0–0, 6.43 ERA) faces the visiting Orioles on Monday. Rosenberg’s only start in the majors was against Seattle on June 19, 2022.

Athletics: LHP Ken Waldichuk (2–7, 5.92) pitches against the Blue Jays on Monday in Oakland, his 31st appearance this season and 18th start. Waldichuk is fourth in strikeouts (114) among rookie pitchers.

By Michael Wagaman