Josh Lowe hit the first grand slam of his major league career, and the Los Angeles Angels relied on strong pitching to defeat the Athletics 4-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Lowe’s second-inning blast accounted for all of the Angels’ scoring as Los Angeles closed its homestand with a series victory. Starter Sam Aldegheri delivered five solid innings before the bullpen combined to protect the lead, highlighted by Samy Natera Jr. recording the first save of his major league career.
The Athletics threatened several times but could not deliver a timely hit, finishing without a hit in eight at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Lowe Delivers Early Breakthrough
The Angels created their biggest opportunity in the second inning and capitalized with one swing.
After loading the bases against Athletics starter Aaron Civale, Lowe battled through a lengthy at-bat. He fouled off two consecutive 1-2 pitches before driving a high cutter into the right-field corner.
The 403-foot drive cleared the fence for Lowe’s first home run since May 20 and the first grand slam of his six-year major league career.
The home run also marked a breakthrough in one of the few situations where Lowe had yet to produce significant power. Entering the game, he had driven in 27 runs with the bases loaded but had managed only two extra-base hits in those opportunities.
His grand slam immediately gave the Angels a four-run cushion that proved more than enough.
Aldegheri Sets The Tone
Aldegheri gave Los Angeles another dependable outing on the mound.
The left-hander worked five innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out four. He consistently limited damage despite several Athletics scoring opportunities and improved his record to 3-3.
The Athletics finally broke through in the fifth inning.
Jeff McNeil reached base before Joey Meneses lifted a sacrifice fly that scored the only Oakland run of the afternoon. It was one of the few times the Athletics converted a scoring chance, as they repeatedly left runners stranded throughout the game.
Bullpen Protects The Lead
The Angels’ relief corps handled the final four innings without allowing another run.
José Fermin followed Aldegheri by pitching two scoreless innings, helping maintain the three-run advantage.
The Athletics mounted their most serious threat in the eighth inning after drawing consecutive walks to begin the frame. With the tying run on deck and no outs recorded, Ryan Zeferjahn entered and immediately regained control.
He struck out the next two hitters before giving way to Natera.
The rookie reliever retired Nick Kurtz on a fly ball to end the inning, preserving the three-run lead.
Natera returned in the ninth and finished the game for the first save of his major league career, completing another strong effort by the Angels’ bullpen.
Athletics Miss Scoring Opportunities
Oakland generated enough baserunners to make the game competitive but could not deliver the key hit.
The Athletics collected six hits and drew several walks, yet finished 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position while leaving eight runners on base.
Those missed opportunities prevented them from recovering after Lowe’s early grand slam.
Civale settled down after the second inning and completed five innings. He allowed seven hits and four runs while striking out two before handing the game to the bullpen.
José Suárez followed with two scoreless innings in relief to keep the Athletics within striking distance, but the offense never found the breakthrough it needed.
Angels Close Series With Strong Pitching
Los Angeles combined a timely offense with another disciplined performance on the mound.
Lowe’s grand slam supplied all four runs, while Aldegheri and four relievers consistently worked out of trouble to secure the victory.
The Angels held the Athletics to one run despite several scoring threats and closed out the series by executing in the game’s biggest moments.
For Oakland, the inability to capitalize with runners on base overshadowed another solid effort from its pitching staff after the second inning.
Up Next
The Athletics remain at home to open a three-game series against the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night. Left-hander Gage Jump, who is 3-1 with a 2.04 ERA, is scheduled to face Dodgers left-hander Eric Lauer, who enters with a 3-5 record and a 4.87 ERA.
The Angels begin a three-game road series in Seattle on Monday night. Right-hander Ryan Johnson, who is 1-2 with an 8.84 ERA, is set to oppose Mariners right-hander George Kirby, who enters with a 6-7 record and a 3.94 ERA.
