Athletics aim to finish off home season sweep of Angels

Jul 21, 2024, 6:35 AM | Updated: 8:28 am

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JULY 20: Zack Gelof #20 of the Oakland Athletics throws to first base after t...

(Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)

Sactown Sports

The Oakland Athletics have a chance to complete a season-long, six-game home sweep of the Los Angeles Angels for the first time since 1991 when the California rivals meet for what is expected to be the final time at the stadium by the San Francisco Bay on Sunday afternoon.

The A’s added to a three-game home sweep earlier this month with 13-3 and 8-2 romps the past two days, putting them within reach of the 6-0 whitewashing they put on what was then the California Angels 33 years ago.

After a pair of shutouts drove the July 2-4 wins, the A’s have overpowered their visitors with 25 hits, including four home runs, in the encore performance.

Andujar keeps the offense rollin’ 🚂 pic.twitter.com/72JJFz0bkR

— A’s on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) July 20, 2024

Athletics vs. Angels Preview

Leading the way the past two days have been Max Schuemann, who has gone 4-for-6 with two doubles, a homer, five RBIs and five runs, and Lawrence Butler, who has gone 5-for-8 with a double, triple and five RBIs.

Miguel Andujar also has racked up five hits, including a double, while JJ Bleday has had a homer and two doubles, and Brent Rooker a homer and two singles.

The onslaught also included a single by Jacob Wilson in his major-league debut in Friday’s win.

The organization’s top prospect strained his left hamstring scoring on Butler’s triple two batters later. The shortstop was pulled from the game and sat out Saturday as the team awaits the results of an MRI scheduled for Sunday.

Rooker did his best to encourage the 22-year-old after the team’s first-round pick in 2023, the No. 6 overall selection of the draft, saw his debut end prematurely on Friday.

“He’s going to get healthy,” Rooker said. “I talked to him and said, ‘Look, you got all the firsts out of the way. You got the first start. You got the first hit. All that’s done now. So whenever you’re healthy, you just come back and get to play; you don’t have to worry about that stuff.’ So we’re excited to have him back, whenever that is.”

Oakland’s scheduled Sunday starter, Joey Estes (4-4, 5.29 ERA), contributed to the Athletics’ home dominance of the Angels with a five-hit shutout in a 5-0 win on July 3. The 22-year-old has made two career starts against the Angels, going 1-1 with a 1.23 ERA.

Seeking to prevent a small piece of negative history for the Angels will be right-hander Carson Fulmer (0-2, 3.45), who made the most of his first start of the season last Sunday against Seattle, throwing 4 2/3 no-hit innings in a 3-2 win.

The 30-year-old has gone 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in three games, including two starts, against the A’s in his career.

The best news of the series for the Angels came Saturday when it was learned that star Mike Trout had headed to Arizona, where he’s scheduled to begin an injury-rehab stint on Tuesday.

If all goes well with the previously torn meniscus in his left knee, the veteran Trout is considered to be a possibility to face the A’s when the clubs conclude their season series in Anaheim next Thursday through Sunday.

“I’m itching to get out there, for sure,” Trout said. “It’s all coming together with the younger guys. It’s good to see.”

-Field Level Media