Stephen Piscotty hit a three-run homer and matched his career high with five RBIs, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Los Angeles Angels 10-0 on Wednesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.
Oakland moved within four games of first-place Houston in the AL West and stayed 2 1/2 behind the New York Yankees for the top wild card. The A's are 5 1/2 games ahead of streaking Tampa Bay for the second wild card with 10 to play.
Click to Gallery
Stephen Piscotty hit a three-run homer and matched his career high with five RBIs, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Los Angeles Angels 10-0 on Wednesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.
Ramon Laureano added an RBI single and a sacrifice fly for the A's, who had lost four of five.
The left-hander made his second start since coming off the disabled list and taking the loss last Thursday in Baltimore, where he lasted only 3 1/3 innings. He has walked one or fewer batters in each of his past 10 starts, with just five free passes over 54 2/3 innings during that stretch.
Los Angeles shortstop Sherman Johnson made his major league debut in the sixth for the Angels, who were shut out for the 10th time.
Athletics: RHP Trevor Cahill, scratched from his scheduled Saturday start at Tampa Bay with a strain in his upper back before getting trigger-point injections, threw a 35-pitch bullpen and could start this weekend against the Twins if everything feels right Thursday. "We'll see how he feels tomorrow. If he feels good tomorrow, then we'll probably slot him in some point in time on the weekend," Melvin said. ... LHP Sean Manaea had arthroscopic shoulder surgery performed by Dr. Neil ElAttrache in Los Angeles that included posterior labral repair. The A's said Manaea will begin his rehab program Monday in Arizona.
Athletics: RHP Edwin Jackson (5-3, 3.17) beat the Angels in a 7-0 A's road win on Aug. 11.
Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani leaves the batter's box after hitting a single off Oakland Athletics' Brett Anderson during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoBen Margot)
Jed Lowrie and Piscotty each hit a two-run double in a six-run fourth inning to back Brett Anderson (4-5).
Oakland Athletics' Stephen Piscotty, right, celebrates as he passes Los Angeles Angels catcher Joe Hudson after hitting a three-run home run off Angels' Parker Bridwell during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoBen Margot)
Ramon Laureano added an RBI single and a sacrifice fly for the A's, who had lost four of five.
Anderson pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up three hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Three relievers finished the four-hitter as Oakland's 14th shutout of the season took just 2 hours, 23 minutes.
Anderson delivered the longest outing by an A's starter in 26 games, becoming the first to go more than six innings during that stretch — which has included manager Bob Melvin starting games with a reliever who works just one inning before giving way to a regular starter. The 25 straight games with a starter going six or fewer innings was the second-longest in franchise history.
Oakland Athletics' Jed Lowrie drops his bat after hitting a two-run double off Los Angeles Angels' Felix Pena during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoBen Margot)
The left-hander made his second start since coming off the disabled list and taking the loss last Thursday in Baltimore, where he lasted only 3 1/3 innings. He has walked one or fewer batters in each of his past 10 starts, with just five free passes over 54 2/3 innings during that stretch.
Anderson retired his first eight batters and got through the second inning on five pitches.
Angels starter Felix Pena (3-5) was done after the fourth, allowing six runs on six hits with three strikeouts and a walk. The right-hander retired his first nine batters.
Los Angeles Angels pitching coach Charles Nagy, center, speaks with pitcher Felix Pena (64) during the fourth inning of the team's baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoBen Margot)
Los Angeles shortstop Sherman Johnson made his major league debut in the sixth for the Angels, who were shut out for the 10th time.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: RF Kole Calhoun, who was 0 for 5 with three strikeouts a night earlier, had the day off. ... Rookie 2B and utilityman David Fletcher, who exited Sunday's game against Seattle in the first inning with a strained left hamstring, missed a second straight game and won't be rushed back.
Oakland Athletics' Stephen Piscotty, right, celebrates with Khris Davis (2) after hitting a three-run home run off Los Angeles Angels' Parker Bridwell during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoBen Margot)
Athletics: RHP Trevor Cahill, scratched from his scheduled Saturday start at Tampa Bay with a strain in his upper back before getting trigger-point injections, threw a 35-pitch bullpen and could start this weekend against the Twins if everything feels right Thursday. "We'll see how he feels tomorrow. If he feels good tomorrow, then we'll probably slot him in some point in time on the weekend," Melvin said. ... LHP Sean Manaea had arthroscopic shoulder surgery performed by Dr. Neil ElAttrache in Los Angeles that included posterior labral repair. The A's said Manaea will begin his rehab program Monday in Arizona.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Matt Shoemaker (2-1, 3.98 ERA) makes his fifth start of the season after returning Sept. 3 from a strained right forearm. He is 6-2 with a 3.61 ERA in 13 career appearances (12 starts) against the A's.
Oakland Athletics' Matt Chapman prepares to slide as Los Angeles Angels catcher Joe Hudson waits for the ball during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoBen Margot)
Athletics: RHP Edwin Jackson (5-3, 3.17) beat the Angels in a 7-0 A's road win on Aug. 11.
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Oakland Athletics' Matt Chapman (26) and Nick Martini (38) are congratulated after scoring against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoBen Margot)
Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani leaves the batter's box after hitting a single off Oakland Athletics' Brett Anderson during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoBen Margot)