OC Register: Angels rally in ninth inning, lose to A’s in 10th

[AngelsWin.com]

ANAHEIM ― For the second consecutive day, the Angels mounted a ninth-inning rally against the Oakland A’s, hoping to overcome a two-run deficit.

This time it worked.

Tied 2-2 going into the 10th inning, the A’s got a run against Angels closer Raisel Iglesias to win 3-2 Sunday before an announced crowd of 22,456 at Angel Stadium.

Iglesias allowed a leadoff single to Mark Canha. The automatic runner on second base, Matt Olson, advanced to third, then scored on a sacrifice fly by the next batter, Jed Lowrie. Just as quickly as they had tied the game, the Angels found themselves playing catch-up yet again.

Needing a run to keep the game alive in the bottom of the 10th inning, the Angels failed to score.

David Fletcher led off and hit a routine ground ball to third base that ended with the automatic runner, Jack Mayfield, getting tagged out at the end of a rundown. The next batter, Brandon Marsh, hit a tailor-made double play ball to A’s shortstop Elvis Andrus. The inning stayed alive for a moment when Andrus threw wide of first base. But Kean Wong’s line drive to right field hung up long enough to land in Brown’s glove, ending the game.

The A’s (82-67) swept the three-game series from the Angels (72-77). Oakland dominated the season series, going 15-4.

The Angels collected just four hits in the loss, showing few signs of life until it was too late.

Phil Gosselin led off the ninth inning with a line-drive double into the left field corner. The next batter, Jared Walsh, struck a single softly to the shortstop hole, which was vacant in the A’s defensive shift. Gosselin advanced 90 feet.

Luis Rengifo then hit a ground ball to A’s first baseman Matt Olson, allowing Walsh to advance to second base. With one out, Jose Rojas delivered the big hit the Angels had been waiting for: a line-drive single into right field, splitting the fielders in the shift.

Gosselin scored easily. Walsh initially held up at third base, but was able to score standing up when Seth Brown’s throw sailed to the backstop. Rojas went to second base on the error, and the game was tied 2-2.

The ninth inning ended when Lou Trivino relieved Romo, and struck out Max Stassi and Jack Mayfield.

A’s starter Frankie Montas limited the Angels to one hit, a double by Marsh, over the first seven innings.

In his 22nd start as a pitcher, Shohei Ohtani allowed solo home runs to Yan Gomes in the third inning and Matt Chapman in the fourth. For all his brilliance, Ohtani was in line for the loss until the Angels rallied in the ninth inning.

Ohtani had two things working in his favor: a stellar split-fingered fastball, and as much stamina as he had displayed in any of his first 33 major league starts.

The right-hander limited Oakland to five hits and two runs in eight innings, matching the longest start of his career (Aug. 18 in Detroit). He issued three walks, one of which was intentional, and struck out 10.

With few exceptions, the A’s could not figure out what to do with Ohtani’s splitter. He used it to induce a double-play groundout from Matt Chapman in the sixth inning. He used it to strike out the side in the seventh. Mostly, he just kept throwing the pitch.

Ohtani’s total of 108 pitches represented the third-highest total of his career. Fifty-five of those were splitters. According to Statcast, only three pitchers since 2008 have thrown more splitters in a single game.

It was easy to forget that, just three days earlier, Angels manager Joe Maddon suggested Ohtani might be done pitching for the season because of soreness in his right elbow. On his 106th pitch, Ohtani threw the ball harder than he had all afternoon, 99 mph to Chapman. Two pitches later he struck Chapman out ― on a splitter.

Steve Cishek tossed a scoreless ninth inning before Iglesias took over in the 10th.

Facing a 3-1 deficit on Saturday, the Angels loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. They hit three balls 98 mph or harder against A’s reliever Andrew Chafin. But they could not score a run en route to their second consecutive loss.

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[Angel Oracle]

I really hate the A’th!