OC Register: Mike Trout blasts 39th homer as Angels open final weekend with victory

[AngelsWin.com]

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  The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani steals third as Oakland third baseman Matt Chapman takes a late throw from home during the second inning of Friday’s game at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  The Angels’ Mike Trout greets teammate Shohei Ohtani with a celebratory slap on the hand after Ohtani scored during the second inning of Friday’s game against the A’s. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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  Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jaime Barria throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: Taylor Ward #3 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hits a two-run homerun during the second inning of the MLB game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium on September 28, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Taylor Ward, right, hits a two-run home run while Oakland Athletics catcher Jonathan Lucroy watches during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Taylor Ward, right, heads to first as he hits a two-run home run while Oakland Athletics catcher Jonathan Lucroy, center, and home plate umpire Doug Eddings watch during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Lou Trivino throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, right, of Japan, smiles at first base umpire Joe West after hitting a single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, hits a single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels reliever Taylor Cole throws watches a pitch during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hits a two-run home run during the third inning of the MLB game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium on September 28, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim congratulates teammate Mike Trout #27 at home plate after Trout hit a two-run homerun as catcher Jonathan Lucroy #21 of the Oakland Athletics looks on during the third inning of the MLB game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium on September 28, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hits a sacrifice fly to left field during the fifth inning of the MLB game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium on September 28, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a sacrifice fly to left field during the fifth inning of the MLB game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium on September 28, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: Pitcher Taylor Cole #67 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the sixth inning of the MLB game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium on September 28, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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  ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: Kaleb Cowart #22 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim gets the tag down on Ramon Laureano #22 of the Oakland Athletics trying to steal second base for the out during the fifth inning of the MLB game at Angel Stadium on September 28, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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ANAHEIM — While the Angels’ final weekend of games have little bearing on the present, they opened the series with all sorts of storylines relating to the past and the future.

The Angels’ 8-5 victory over the Oakland A’s on Friday night included big offensive contributions from rookies Shohei Ohtani and Taylor Ward and the scoreless pitching of rookies Jaime Barría and Taylor Cole.

It all came against a backdrop of what is likely to be the final weekend for Mike Scioscia after 19 years managing the team.

On Saturday, the Angels will honor Scioscia with a bobblehead, and on Friday the ballpark concourse included at least one ad for the promotion that included a list of the manager’s accomplishments.

In between all that, the most significant developments relating to 2018 came from Mike Trout and Ohtani, who are making their final statements in the bid for individual awards.

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Ohtani, who had two singles, a double and a sacrifice fly, seems like a good bet to win the AL Rookie of the Year award. Ohtani also stole his 10th base of the year.

As you’d expect, Ohtani is also the first player in major league history to steal 10 bases, hit 10 homers and start 10 games as a pitcher in the same season.

The only other Angels rookies to combine the 10 steals and 20 homers – Ohtani has 22 – were Devon White (1987) and Trout (2012).

Trout was the unanimous Rookie of the Year then, and now he’s trying to win his third MVP award.

Trout singled and hit a two-run homer, his 39th of the season. Trout, however, might only be cementing his place as the MVP runner-up – for the fourth time. Mookie Betts is having a season that, by most measures, is equal to Trout’s, but he’s doing so on a 107-win team going to the playoffs.

The Angels, meanwhile, are going nowhere, but at least feeling good about a four-game winning streak in the final week and the performances of a few players who could be part of the solution in 2019.

Barría, a 22-year-old who began last season at Class-A Inland Empire, has risen quickly to become a reliable member of the rotation. In his 26th start of the season, Barría did not allow a hit or a run. He was knocked out after 4-2/3 innings because he walked six, though.

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Barría finished his season with a 3.41 ERA in 129-1/3 innings.

His shot to pitch part of a combined no-hitter ended when Cole gave up a single to Jed Lowrie leading off the sixth. Around that, Cole pitched 2-1/3 innings, striking out five of the eight batters he faced. Signed as a minor league free agent right before spring training, Cole has a 2.75 ERA in 36 innings.

The Angels got the lead with three runs in the second, including two on a homer by Ward, his fifth of the season and second in as many games.

Ward had a rough defensive game. Still learning third base after being a catcher until this year, Ward made an error and had an infield single deflect off his glove in the A’s five-run eighth inning.

More to come on this story.

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