Daz Cameron hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the fourth inning Thursday night for the visiting Oakland Athletics, who edged the Los Angeles Angels 6-5 in the opener of a four-game series.
Brent Rooker hit a solo homer in the first inning and Lawrence Butler added a two-run blast in the third for the Athletics, who have won six of eight to improve to 12-7 this month. Butler stole third base in the first and scored on a throwing error by Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe just before Rooker’s round-tripper.
Butler and Max Schuemann had two hits apiece for Oakland. Schuemann also stole a base.
The Angels, who scored all of their runs in the second inning, had their four-game winning streak end. O’Hoppe and Zach Neto had RBI singles and Mickey Moniak lofted a sacrifice fly before Luis Rengifo laced a two-run double.
Kevin Pillar had two hits and a stolen base for the Angels. Neto added a stolen base.
Ross Stripling (2-9), who was activated from the injured list prior to the game, earned the win after allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three over 5 2/3 innings.
It was the first victory since May 1 for Stripling, who was 0-4 with a 9.98 ERA in his following four starts before being shelved in late May due to a right elbow strain.
A quartet of A’s relievers combined to allow one hit over the final 3 1/3 innings. Rookie Tyler Ferguson, pitching the ninth inning hours after All-Star closer Mason Miller was placed on the injured list with a fractured left pinky finger, earned his first major league save by striking out two in a perfect ninth.
Angels starter Kenny Rosenberg (0-1) gave up all six runs on six hits and one walk while striking out one over 3 1/3 innings. Four Los Angeles relievers combined to blank the Athletics on three hits over the final 5 2/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
