Denzer Guzman delivered the decisive hit with a two-out single in the seventh inning, helping the Los Angeles Angels pull away for a 5-2 win over the Athletics on Saturday night.
The Angels added two insurance runs in the eighth and received another strong effort from their bullpen, with Ryan Zeferjahn earning the win before Kirby Yates recorded the 100th save of his major league career. The victory continued Los Angeles’ recent run of solid pitching and timely late-game offense.
Reid Detmers provided another quality start for the Angels, striking out eight over 5 2/3 innings, while Jack Perkins kept the Athletics in the game through five innings before the visitors’ bullpen surrendered the lead.
Athletics Strike First
Oakland opened the scoring in the second inning with a towering home run from Jonah Heim.
Detmers left a first-pitch fastball over the middle of the plate, and Heim crushed it 445 feet into the seats beyond left-center field. The seventh home run of Heim’s season gave the Athletics an early 1-0 advantage.
Perkins protected that lead through the opening three innings. The right-hander mixed his pitches effectively, allowing only a handful of baserunners while striking out five during his outing.
Angels Respond In The Fourth
Los Angeles answered in the fourth inning by taking advantage of its scoring opportunity.
Nolan Schanuel worked a leadoff walk before Jorge Soler followed with a single. Although Wade Meckler struck out, Jo Adell came through with a clutch swing.
Adell lined a two-run triple into the left-field corner, bringing home both Schanuel and Soler to give the Angels a 2-1 lead.
Perkins settled back in afterward and completed five innings. He surrendered two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out five, leaving the game with the score still within reach.
Athletics Pull Even
Oakland tied the game in the sixth after putting together another timely rally.
Nick Kurtz opened the inning with a single before Lawrence Butler drew a walk. With two outs, Colby Thomas lined a single into left field to score Kurtz and even the score at 2-2.
The Athletics nearly carried that momentum into the late innings, but the Angels answered immediately.
Guzman Delivers The Decisive Blow
Los Angeles reclaimed the lead in the seventh with aggressive baserunning and a well-placed hit.
Josh Lowe singled with one out against reliever Geoff Hartlieb before stealing second base. Two batters later, Guzman hit a hard ground ball down the third-base line.
Third baseman Max Muncy could not make the play as the ball skipped past him into left field. Lowe raced home to put the Angels back in front, giving Guzman the game-winning RBI.
Zeferjahn then protected the lead in the top of the seventh. The right-hander struck out two during another scoreless appearance, extending his hitless streak to 10 innings over his last nine outings. During that stretch, he has piled up 19 strikeouts while continuing to emerge as one of the Angels’ most dependable late-inning relievers.
Angels Add Insurance
Los Angeles created breathing room in the eighth inning.
Oswald Peraza singled home a run before Logan O’Hoppe followed with another RBI single to stretch the lead to 5-2.
The Athletics threatened to answer in the top half of the inning after loading the bases with one out against Sam Bachman.
Bachman responded with his best pitches of the night. He struck out pinch-hitter Carlos Cortes with a 100 mph sinker before retiring Muncy on a fly ball to end the threat and preserve the three-run advantage.
Yates handled the ninth inning without allowing a baserunner, retiring the side in order to earn his second save of the season. The milestone save was the 100th of his major league career.
Detmers Continues Strong Season
Detmers continued his productive stretch despite receiving a no-decision.
The left-hander allowed two runs on four hits across 5 2/3 innings while striking out eight and walking three. His strikeout total climbed to 112 for the season, placing him among the league leaders.
The Angels’ bullpen combined to finish the final 3 1/3 innings without allowing another run, continuing a trend of effective late-game pitching that helped secure the series lead.
Oakland also dealt with another injury concern during the game. Already missing shortstop Jacob Wilson and second baseman Zach Gelof, the Athletics lost left fielder Tyler Soderstrom in the third inning because of left hip soreness.
Up Next
The Athletics will send right-hander Aaron Civale, who is 5-4 with a 4.88 ERA, to the mound for Sunday’s series finale against the Angels. Los Angeles is scheduled to counter with left-hander Sam Aldegheri, who enters with a 2-3 record and a 5.47 ERA.