The Los Angeles Angels dropped a 7-4 decision to the Athletics at Las Vegas Ballpark on Sunday in spring training play. Despite Logan O'Hoppe's 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI effort at the plate, the Angels could not pull even when it mattered. On the mound, Jack Kochanowicz turned in a solid outing, working 4.0 innings of 1-run ball with two strikeouts. Both clubs finished with 10 hits apiece in a closely contested battle. Despite the result, the coaching staff gathered useful data on the current state of the roster. Spring training losses sting, but the information gained will inform decisions as Opening Day approaches.
Key Performers
Logan O'Hoppe was the standout at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI. His ability to drive the ball out of the park was the highlight of the afternoon. Performances like this give the Angels confidence that the lineup is rounding into form.
Oswald Peraza added to the attack, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and an RBI, Kyren Paris provided support, going 2-for-4 with a double, and Jo Adell also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a double. While there were individual bright spots, the lineup could not string hits together consistently.
On the other side of the diamond, Tommy White led the Athletics offense with a 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI day. Henry Bolte also contributed, going 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, and two RBI. Drew Swift added a 1-for-1 with an RBI effort as well. The Athletics offense proved to be too much for the Angels pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Jack Kochanowicz got the start, delivering a strong performance, working 4.0 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 3 hits with two strikeouts. He threw 48 pitches in the outing. It was exactly the kind of outing the Angels need from their pitching staff heading into the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 4.0 innings of work, allowing 6 earned runs while striking out four. Spring training gives the coaching staff a chance to evaluate bullpen depth, and today provided useful information about the current state of the bullpen. Each reliever is auditioning for a roster spot, and innings like these factor into those decisions. Nick Hernandez recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Austin Gordon stood out with 2.0 innings of 1-run work, striking out three. His performance was one of the day's bright spots from the bullpen.
How It Happened
Athletics got on the board first with a run in the second inning. The Angels responded with two runs in the fourth. Athletics countered with a run in the fifth. The Angels struck back with a run in the sixth. Athletics answered with three runs in the seventh. The Angels responded with a run in the eighth. Athletics countered with two runs in the eighth. The Athletics were able to score in four separate innings, keeping the pressure on throughout the contest. Both teams finished with 10 hits apiece, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 10,606 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was not the outcome the Angels were looking for, but spring training provides a forgiving environment to work through the rough patches. The focus remains on preparation and development, and the coaching staff will use today as a teaching opportunity. The regular season is right around the corner, and every game is a chance to improve.