ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Taylor Ward hit a grand slam to help the Angels erase an early 6-0 deficit, and Los Angeles beat the Oakland Athletics 8-6 on Sunday to avoid a four-game sweep.
Ward’s slam in the fourth inning in the Oakland bullpen His home run to left-center field off Osvaldo Bido (2-2) was the fourth of his career and the fourth by an Angel this season. His previous grand slam was on May 4, 2022, also against Oakland. He has 16 homers this season.
Brent Rooker hit a bases-loaded double in a six-run third inning for the A’s, who had won eight of their last 10 games and had already secured their fourth straight series victory.
Luis Garcia, brought in as Los Angeles’ starting catcher after Carlos Estevez was traded to Philadelphia a day earlier, retired the team on nine pitches in the ninth for his fourth save.
Roansy Contreras (2-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.
Bido walked Zach Neto, Nolan Schanuel and Luis Rengifo before Ward walked him with two outs, putting the Angels up 7-6 and ending his day. Bido allowed seven runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Willie Calhoun hit a two-run single to pull Los Angeles within 6-3 in the third inning.
Angels starting pitcher Jose Siriano was pulled after allowing four hits and a walk in the third inning. He was charged with six runs, three earned, in 2 2/3 innings.
A fielding error by Angels second baseman Brandon Drury on a grounder by Miguel Andujar allowed Oakland’s first run to score.
FOLLOWING
Athletics: Left-handed pitcher JP Sears (7-8, 4.81 ERA) will make his team-high 22nd start Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants. He has won three of his last four starts and holds a career high in wins.
Angels: Starting pitcher Griffin Canning (3-10, 2.91 ERA) will start Tuesday against Colorado. Canning is 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA in two career starts against the Rockies.
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