ANAHEIM, Calif. — Yusei Kikuchi delivered an impressive performance on the mound, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 7-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Monday night. Jo Adell contributed significantly to the win by hitting a home run and driving in three runs, while Mike Trout added two RBIs.
Kikuchi’s (2-5) night was marked by a dominant one-hit shutout performance that stretched into the eighth inning. He allowed a single to Max Muncy in the fifth inning and struck out five batters while only walking one. He exited the game in the eighth inning after throwing his 104th pitch and striking out Nick Kurtz. Despite late home runs from Muncy and pinch-hitter JJ Bleday, the Angels held strong.
Denzel Clarke of the Athletics displayed his defensive skills once again with a remarkable catch at center field. Clarke scaled the wall and clung onto the top to rob Nolan Schanuel of a home run, reminiscent of his daring catch against the Orioles last week.
In the third inning, the Angels took a 3-0 lead thanks to consecutive RBI singles by Zach Neto, Schanuel, and Trout. This came after Jeffrey Springs (5-5) replaced Grant Holman, who had pitched a scoreless opening inning. Adell then increased the lead to 4-0 with a solo home run in the fourth inning off Springs. He later added two more runs with a single in the eighth inning following a sacrifice fly by Trout, bringing the score to 7-2.
In the ninth inning, Muncy managed to hit a two-run homer off Shaun Anderson, narrowing the score slightly. Connor Brogdon, taking over from Kikuchi, gave up a single to Luis Urías before Bleday hit his seventh home run, making it 4-2. Ryan Zeferjahn closed out the eighth inning by securing the final two outs.
Notably, Jacob Wilson went 0 for 4 for the Athletics, ending his streak of five consecutive games with multiple hits.
The critical moment came when Neto, Schanuel, and Trout managed three consecutive singles off Springs, breaking the strong start initiated by Holman.
Overall, the Angels have outperformed the Athletics by 31-18, having won all four games in their encounter from May 19-22 at Sutter Health Park, the A’s temporary home.
In the upcoming game, RHP José Soriano (4-5, 4.11 ERA) is set to start for the Angels on Tuesday. The Athletics have yet to announce their starting pitcher.