The Athletics got back in the win column Thursday with the kind of spring training final that looks like it belongs on a scoreboard at Allegiant Stadium.
Oakland outlasted the Los Angeles Angels 16-11 at Tempe Diablo Stadium behind five home runs and a second inning that turned into a full-on avalanche. The A’s scored eight in the second, then had to keep scoring because the late innings turned into a bullpen stress test.
Five of six A’s pitchers allowed at least one earned run, and Oakland still walked away with the win because the bats never stopped.
Second inning is the swing, and it is loud
The A’s built the lead with patience and power. Austin Wynns opened the second with a double, then a run of walks started the damage.
With the bases loaded, Tyler Soderstrom crushed a grand slam to right-center. Brent Rooker followed with a homer to left-center. Two batters later, Wynns went deep to left.
Just like that, it was 8-0, and Tempe Diablo never really settled after it.
Soderstrom finished with four RBIs, Rooker had two hits and an RBI, and Wynns drove in a run with the homer after scoring twice.
A’s keep adding, Angels keep swinging
Oakland pushed the lead again in the sixth. Max Muncy singled in a run, Michael Stefanic doubled in two more, and Junior Perez hit a two-run homer to make it 13-4.
The Angels did not go quietly. They scored in bunches late, including a five-run eighth that tightened the game. Oakland answered one more time in the ninth when Clark Elliott drilled a three-run homer to center, his first of the spring, pushing the cushion back out.
Luis Morales earned the win after 3 2/3 innings. The middle relief got tagged, but the offense built enough runway to survive it.
Up next
The Athletics return to Hohokam Stadium on Friday, March 6, to face the Colorado Rockies. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. MST in Mesa.
Related stories
Athletics Opening Day countdown: Alex Kellner is best No. 22 in A’s history
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
