The Oakland Athletics were poised to break their losing streak against the Los Angeles Angels but ultimately fell short, suffering a 10-5 defeat that marked their ninth consecutive loss and completed a four-game sweep in Sacramento.
Luis Severino, who had high expectations after a lucrative offseason contract, took the mound hoping to be the decisive factor in turning the team’s fortunes. The A’s started strong, with Brent Rooker making a spectacular double play in the first inning and later hitting a two-run home run, contributing significantly to a 3-0 lead early in the game. Severino pitched effectively through six innings, allowing only two runs, and dropped his ERA to 4.11, showing promise despite the team’s struggles.
However, a collapse in the later innings turned the game around. The A’s built a comfortable lead, aided by bases-loaded walks, but when rookie Grant Holman took over from the bullpen, the Angels capitalized immediately. Taylor Ward hit a grand slam, suddenly flipping the game in favor of the Angels, who then added further runs to secure their victory.
The loss has pushed the A’s into last place in the AL West, with a record of 22-29 and a disheartening streak of 13 losses in their last 16 games. Manager Mark Kotsay expressed the disappointment felt by the team. “This one hurts,” he remarked, indicating the frustration over missed opportunities to win several recent games.
As the A’s look forward, they face the Philadelphia Phillies in a weekend series. There’s hope that the team can regroup after a brief break, with anticipation building around potential pitching changes, including starting Jeffrey Springs against ace Zack Wheeler on Friday night. There remains a glimmer of hope that they can break the losing cycle and regain their competitive edge.