The Athletics used a controversial replay reversal in the 10th inning to secure a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night at Angel Stadium.
Zack Gelof drove in the winning run on a fielder’s choice groundout that initially appeared to end the inning. After a replay review overturned the out call at first base, Nick Kurtz scored from third to give the Athletics the lead for good.
The result added to another frustrating night for the Angels, who have now lost 11 of their last 13 games. Los Angeles built an early advantage behind Nolan Schanuel’s first-inning homer and received another strong start from José Soriano, but the offense stalled over the final nine innings.
The Athletics stayed patient, slowly worked back into the game, and capitalized late to finish the series with a tight extra-inning victory.
Replay Decision Changes The Game
The deciding play came in the top of the 10th inning against Angels reliever Ryan Zeferjahn.
The Athletics loaded the bases with one out before Gelof hit a sharp ground ball toward shortstop Zach Neto. Neto fielded it cleanly and flipped to Adam Frazier at second base for the force out.
Frazier, however, struggled to transfer the ball from his glove while attempting the relay throw to first. Gelof was ruled out initially, but the Athletics challenged the call immediately.
The replay review showed Gelof narrowly beat the throw to first base. The overturned call allowed Kurtz to score from third and gave the Athletics a 3-2 lead.
The sequence highlighted the Angels’ recent defensive and late-game struggles during a difficult stretch of the season.
Los Angeles could not answer in the bottom half of the inning. Athletics reliever Mark Leiter Jr. retired the Angels in order to earn his fourth save of the year.
Schanuel Gives Angels Early Lead
The Angels looked sharp early and grabbed control in the first inning.
After Mike Trout reached base, Nolan Schanuel connected for a two-run homer that gave Los Angeles a quick 2-0 advantage. The blast continued Schanuel’s productive season and briefly gave the Angels momentum against Athletics starter Luis Severino.
That early inning, however, turned out to be the Angels’ only offensive breakthrough.
Severino settled in immediately afterward and dominated across the middle innings. The veteran right-hander allowed only three hits over seven innings while striking out 10 batters.
The Angels struggled to adjust once Severino found his rhythm. Los Angeles rarely threatened again after the opening inning and repeatedly failed to generate traffic on the bases.
The lack of offensive production has become a growing issue for the Angels during their recent slide.
Soriano Continues Strong Season
José Soriano delivered another quality outing despite not earning a win.
The right-hander pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on six hits while striking out seven. He consistently attacked the strike zone and limited hard contact throughout most of the night.
Soriano carried the Angels into the late innings with a lead before the Athletics finally broke through in the sixth inning.
Shea Langeliers started the rally with a two-out double off the wall in left-center field. Kurtz followed with an RBI single through the middle to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Athletics tied the game an inning later.
Gelof reached and advanced into scoring position before Darrell Hernaiz lined a single into left field that scored Gelof and tied the game at 2-2. The hit ended Soriano’s night and erased another strong performance from the Angels starter.
Soriano has consistently given Los Angeles a chance to win this season, but the team’s inconsistent offense and bullpen issues have often prevented those outings from turning into victories.
Kurtz Extends Remarkable Streak
Nick Kurtz continued one of the most impressive stretches in Major League Baseball this season.
The Athletics rookie extended his on-base streak to 44 consecutive games with his sixth-inning RBI single. The streak now stands as the longest active run in the majors this year.
Kurtz consistently created pressure throughout the series and again delivered a key hit during an important moment.
The young slugger has become one of the Athletics’ most reliable offensive contributors and played a central role in Thursday’s comeback.
His ability to reach base consistently has helped stabilize the lineup during a season filled with development and transition for the organization.
Athletics Bullpen Holds Firm
After Severino exited, the Athletics bullpen handled the final innings effectively.
Joel Kuhnel worked a scoreless ninth inning and earned the win before Leiter finished the game cleanly in the 10th.
The Angels could not generate a meaningful rally late despite several chances earlier in the game to extend their lead.
Los Angeles continues to struggle to close out games and maintain momentum in tight contests. Thursday’s loss followed a familiar pattern: strong starting pitching, limited offense after the early innings, and late-game execution issues.
Angels Continue Searching For Consistency
The Angels entered the season hoping improved depth and healthier veterans would help them compete more consistently.
Instead, the club continues battling uneven offensive production and costly mistakes in close games.
The recent stretch has exposed ongoing problems with situational hitting and bullpen stability. Los Angeles has shown flashes offensively at times this season, but has struggled to sustain pressure over full games.
Even with Soriano continuing to pitch effectively, the Angels have not found enough consistency around him.
The Athletics, meanwhile, stayed disciplined throughout the game and gradually forced mistakes late.
Up Next
The Athletics head to San Diego on Friday night to begin a three-game series against the Padres. Left-hander Jeffrey Springs is scheduled to start against Padres right-hander Walker Buehler.
The Angels remain at home to open a three-game series against the Texas Rangers. Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez is expected to start for Los Angeles opposite Rangers ace Jacob deGrom.
