Angels Opening Day: Three takeaways from extra-innings loss to A’s

The Los Angeles Angels dropped their 2020 season opener to the Oakland Athletics, becoming the first team to utilize the runner at second in extra innings.

The 2020 MLB season didn’t get off to a great start for the Los Angeles Angels, as they suffer an extra-innings loss to the Oakland Athletics in 10 innings. After a game-tying home run from Jason Castro tied it up, the Angels were unable to capitalize in the 10th and lost on a walk-off grand slam, 7-3.

The Angels took a 2-1 lead into the 7th inning, but back-to-back extra-base hits from Ramon Laureano and Matt Chapman put the A’s on top 3-2.

Angels’ catcher Jason Castro tied things up with two outs in the top of the ninth with a solo home run. However, the Halos squandered an opportunity to take the lead when Shohei Ohtani struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning.

The Angels left another opportunity on the table in the top of the 10th, when Ohtani was nabbed in a rundown after starting the inning off at second base. The Angels would go on to load the bases with two outs, but couldn’t push the run across in the 10th.

That set the stage for the second inning of Hansel Robles, who appeared to run out of gas. With Marcus Semien starting on second base under the new rule, Robles hit Laureano on a 2-2 pitch. He recovered to strike out Chapman but then walked Khris Davis. That set the stage for Matt Olson’s walk-off slam.

While the final score of 7-3 makes it look like the A’s had command of this game and feels like a disappointment for the Angels, it wasn’t all bad for the Halos. Let’s take a look at the key takeaways from last night.