Los Angeles Angels get first win in dramatic fashion 7-6 over A’s

The Los Angeles Angels were looking at dropping to 0-2 on the season as they went into the ninth trailing 6-4 vs. Oakland Tuesday night.  That’s when new 2nd baseman Danny Espinosa stepped to the plate and changed the Angels fate.

After blowing a 4-2 lead by giving up four runs in the 7th inning  the Los Angeles Angels the Angels hoped to take advantage of their last licks. They got off to a good start with back-to-back singles by Jefry Marte and Cameron Maybin.  Andrelton Simmons then grounded into a force out putting the Angels two outs away from losing.

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Up came local boy Danny Espinosa, who is a Long Beach State alum, battled A’s reliever Ryan Dull to a two-two count before unloading a bomb to right-center that cleared the wall and set off a wild celebration in the Angels’ dugout. The three-run homer by Espinosa gave the Angels a 7-6 lead and new closer Cam Bedrosian made it hold up with a one-two-three inning in the ninth for his first save of the season and second of his career, both against the A’s.

It is always a good sign to see a team come from behind in the 9th inning especially early in the season.  The Angels record is now even at one win and one loss.  The victory was truly a team effort as everyone in the Angels line-up beside Albert Pujols had a hit.  Even more impressive is that eight Angels also either drove in a run or scored a run in the game.  Only Cameron Maybin had more than one hit.

Martin Maldonado had a stellar night both offensively and defensively driving in the first two Angels runs with a second inning single. Yunel Escobar followed with an RBI-single plating Simmons.  Two innings later Mike Trout got into the act with a RBI-triple scoring Kole Calhoun to give the Angels a 4-2 lead.

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Matt Shoemaker had a good first start despite giving up two solo homers lasting five innings giving up four hits and two runs striking out four batters.  However, Blake Parker pitched a stellar sixth inning with two strikeouts in his Angels debut.  Unfortunately his second inning of work did go as well.  He gave up one run before being lifted for Bud Norris who gave a double to Marcus Seimen and then gave up a two-run triple to Rajai Davis who then scored on a Espinosa throwing error for a 6-4 A’s lead.

Next: Newcomers fuel victory for Angels

Andrew Bailey pitched a scoreless to get the win in relief.  The Angels will now send Garrett Richards to the mound tomorrow in hopes of making it two in a row. Then on Thursday Tyler Skaggs finishes the series off on the mound for the Angels.