Yusei Kikuchi dominant as Angels proceed mastery over A’s

Yusei Kikuchi allowed one hit over 7 1/3 shutout innings and Joey Adell homered and had three RBIs as the Los Angeles Angels recorded a 7-4 victory over the Athletics on Monday night at Anaheim, Calif.

Mike Trout had two RBIs and Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel each drove in one to help the Angels win for the fifth time in the past seven games. Los Angeles is 5-0 against the Athletics this season.

JJ Bleday and rookie Max Muncy hit two-run homers for the Athletics, who lost for the 22nd time in the past 26 games. Athletics rookie center fielder Denzel Clarke made another spectacular grab, this time taking a homer away from Schanuel.

Kikuchi (2-5) struck out five and walked one before exiting after retiring the first batter in the eighth. He set down the first 13 batters in order before Muncy singled with one out in the fifth.

Connor Brogdon replaced Kikuchi and the Athletics struck as Luis Urias singled and Bleday homered. A leaping Adell had a chance to rob Bleday but the ball hit off his glove and fell over the fence.

Los Angeles put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Neto and Schanuel singled to start the inning against Tyler Ferguson and Trout hit a sacrifice fly to score Neto.

Later in the inning, runners were at second and third when Adell went the opposite way with a two-run single to right to make it 7-2.

Muncy hit a two-run blast off Shaun Anderson with one out in the ninth.

Kenley Jansen registered the final out in a non-save situation.

Clarke committed flat-out robbery in the first inning when Schanuel hit a drive to left-center. Clarke climbed the wall and had half his body above it before reaching up to make the catch for the second out of the inning.

The Angels scored three times in the third inning.

Scott Kingery reached on a bunt single with one out and moved to second on a throwing error by Jeffery Springs (5-5). Kevin Newman reached when third baseman Muncy fumbled his slow-rolling grounder.

Neto, Schanuel and Trout each followed with RBI singles for the 3-0 lead.

One inning later, Adell smacked a one-out homer to left to make it a four-run game.

Springs was the Athletics’ second pitcher and gave up four runs (three earned) and five hits over six innings. He struck out eight and walked none.

Grant Holman served as the opener and retired all three batters he faced.

–Field Level Media