Field Level Media
Mar 28, 2019
Right-hander Mike Fiers allowed just one hit in six shutout innings and was supported by a two-home run attack Thursday afternoon as the Oakland Athletics celebrated their Opening Day on U.S. soil with a 4-0 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Angels.
Fiers (1-1), who was roughed up for five runs in three innings when the A's opened with a 9-7 loss to Seattle in Japan last week, took a no-hitter one out into the fifth inning before Tommy La Stella crushed a double to center field.
La Stella was one of three baserunners to reach scoring position against Fiers, who had the comfort of pitching with an expanding lead, with the A's backing him with single runs in the second, third, fourth and sixth innings.
Jurickson Profar's home debut for Oakland was an immediate success when he tripled to lead off the bottom of the second for the A's. He scored Oakland's first run on a sacrifice fly by Chad Pinder.
Stephen Piscotty made it 2-0 in the third with a double that plated another new member of the A's, Robbie Grossman, who had singled.
The A's completed their scoring with solo home runs from Marcus Semien in the fourth inning and Khris Davis in the sixth.
Fiers' effort was similar to his third start for the A's last August after he was acquired in a trade from Detroit. In that game, the 33-year-old blanked Texas on one hit over seven innings.
This time around, he struck out two and walked three in his six innings.
Lou Trivino, Joakim Soria and closer Blake Treinen completed the shutout, with Soria allowing two hits in the eighth inning.
That's when the Angels, down 4-0, put runners at second and third on two-out singles by Kole Calhoun and Mike Trout, with an error on A's center fielder Ramon Laureano advancing each baserunner a base.
But Soria got Justin Bour to fly out to left field to preserve the shutout.
The Angels finished with three hits and lost on their Opening Day for the sixth straight year, including three in a row against the A's.
Los Angeles rebounded to win three straight in Oakland to start last season and take the opening series 3-1.
Right-hander Trevor Cahill (0-1) took the loss, allowing all four Oakland runs on six hits in six innings. He struck out three and walked one, facing the team that employed him last season.
Grossman finished with two of Oakland's seven hits.
--Field Level Media