Yusei Kikuchi flirted with a shutout deep into the eighth inning, and Jo Adell homered and drove in three runs as the Los Angeles Angels topped the Oakland Athletics 7-4 on Monday night.
Mike Trout added two RBIs for the Angels, who overcame another highlight-reel catch by A’s rookie center fielder Denzel Clarke.
Kikuchi (2-5) was dominant, allowing only a one-out single to Max Muncy in the fifth before being pulled after his 104th pitch, a strikeout of Nick Kurtz to start the eighth. He walked one and fanned five in a commanding performance.
Adell belted his 12th homer of the season off Jeffrey Springs in the fourth, extending the Angels’ lead to 4-0. He later tacked on a two-run single in the eighth following Trout’s sacrifice fly, giving Los Angeles a 7-2 cushion.
Springs (5-5) was tagged for three consecutive RBI singles by Zach Neto, Nolan Schanuel, and Trout in the third inning after taking over for opener Grant Holman, who tossed a scoreless first.
Clarke stole the show early with his glove, leaping to the top of the center-field wall to rob Schanuel of a solo homer in the first, just a week after crashing into the fence for a spectacular grab against the Orioles.
Oakland showed late life with homers from Muncy and JJ Bleday. Muncy launched a two-run shot in the ninth, and Bleday hit his seventh of the season in the eighth off Connor Brogdon, trimming the Angels’ lead to 4-2 before Ryan Zeferjahn ended the threat.
Jacob Wilson went hitless in four at-bats, ending his five-game multi-hit streak for the A’s.
Key Moment
The Angels broke through in the third with three consecutive RBI singles off Springs after a quiet first inning, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Key Stat
Los Angeles continued their dominance over Oakland, outscoring them 31-18 during a four-game sweep in May at Sutter Health Park.
Up Next
Right-hander José Soriano takes the mound Tuesday for the Angels. The A’s have yet to name their starter.
