Ward, Schanuel Power Angels Past Slumping A’s 4-3 in Series Opener

Taylor Ward blasted a two-run homer and Nolan Schanuel went deep early as the Los Angeles Angels edged the struggling Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Monday night to open their four-game set.

Kenley Jansen sealed the win by striking out Tyler Soderstrom with the tying run on second, preserving the Angels’ fourth straight victory. Now 21-25, the Halos are riding momentum from their three-game sweep of the Dodgers and have won the first game of their seven-game road trip.

Meanwhile, the A’s continued their downward spiral, dropping their sixth straight and 10th in the last 12 games. They fell to 8-14 at Sutter Health Park.

Schanuel gave the Angels an early lead with a solo homer — his third of the season — in the first inning off A’s righty J.T. Ginn, who was activated to make his first start since April 24 due to elbow inflammation.

Oakland quickly responded. Lawrence Butler doubled, and a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom half. Brent Rooker’s double-play grounder plated Butler, and Shea Langeliers’ infield single tied it at 2-2.

In the third, Zach Neto singled and Schanuel doubled. Yoán Moncada’s RBI groundout scored Neto, and Ward followed with his 13th home run of the year to make it 4-2.

The A’s closed the gap in the fifth when Soderstrom doubled and scored on Rooker’s RBI single.

Angels starter José Soriano (3-4) pitched six innings, giving up three runs on six hits and four walks. Jansen allowed a two-out single in the ninth before striking out Soderstrom on three pitches for his ninth save in as many chances.

Ginn (1-2) threw 79 pitches over four innings, giving up four runs on six hits while striking out seven.

Key Moment

Soriano worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the third inning, fanning Langeliers and Nick Kurtz to keep the Angels in front.

Key Stat

Brent Rooker extended his hitting streak against the Angels to 15 games — two shy of the A’s franchise record of 17 set by Bill North in 1974-75.

Up Next

Kyle Hendricks (1-5, 5.18 ERA) takes the mound for the Angels on Tuesday. Gunnar Hoglund (1-1, 3.78 ERA) makes his fourth career start for the Athletics.