Chapman, A’s take series from Angels
OAKLAND — The A’s took three-of-four from the Los Angeles Angels with a 3-0 win on Monday afternoon. It ended with Mike Trout — who represented the game-tying run — called out on strikes, looking at Joakim Soria’s fastball up in the zone.
Matt Chapman wasn’t putting together the most inspiring at bats in these first three games. He showed us his violent power with an opposite field triple in the opener, but followed that up with a hitless streak that spanned eight plate appearances with three strikeouts.
Chapman’s bat came alive on
Monday, along with continued flashes of defensive flair. He singled in his first at bat, then knocked an RBI double in the third inning.
So Chapman wouldn’t get a third look at Angels pulled starter Griffin Canning, manager Joe Maddon pulled him with two outs in the sixth inning. Chapman greeted righthanded reliever Felix Pena with his third hit of the day.
Perhaps most indicative of DH Khris Davis’ bumpy start to the season came in the sixth inning, when he struck out flailing at Pena’s 83
mph slider. Davis is without a hit this season and, without many inspiring at bats, Mark Canha took over the five-spot in Monday’s lineup. Davis moved to sixth.
Manager Bob Melvin said the switch was to reward Canha and maybe lessen the pressure on Davis.
Canha justified the move by hitting his first home run — with a bat flip — 425 feet into left field to give the A’s a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Chris Bassitt tossed four scoreless innings, striking out five batters along the way — including Mike Trout twice swinging a rainbow curveball and then a cutter. The goose egg came with a little defensive wizardry and luck in the fourth,
though.
Justin Upton hit a leadoff single, and a Tommy La Stella single set up runners on the corners with no outs.
Eager to get a generally speedy Upton across home, Albert Pujols made quick contact with Bassitt’s sinker. Chapman picked it up on a hop and rifled it to catcher Sean Murphy. Upton wasn’t even mid-way down the line, and was tagged out as he stumbled.
Jason Castro loaded the bases with a first-pitch single. But the threat was nullified when Andrelton Simmons hit a soft grounder back to Bassitt, who flipped it for the force out at home and Murphy to first for the double play.