A’s offense again floundered in 2-0 loss to Angels, debuting pitcher
The A's only mustered two hits all game long -- both by Elvis Andrus.
OAKLAND, Calif. — The A’s managed just a single hit off Chase Silseth, the first player from last year’s draft to make his major league debut, Friday night in a 2-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland Coliseum.
Elvis Andrus recorded both of the A’s hits all night: He had a leadoff single in the third off the rookie Silseth but was erased on a double play trying to advance to third on a flyout to left field. He also singled in the eighth but was out one batter later when Cristian Pache hit a grounder to third base to end the inning.
The only other baserunners were Ramón Laureano and Tony Kemp, who walked in the second and third innings, respectively.
An 11th-round draft pick by the Angels last July, Silseth was still pitching in college for Arizona a year ago. He made eight appearances in the minors before getting called up from Double-A Rock City before the game.
Silseth (1-0) dazzled the A’s with a fastball clocked at 98 mph and a steady sinker and slider that helped produce eight groundouts. The right-hander finished with four strikeouts and two walks during his 81-pitch outing, and allowed only one runner to reach second base.
Daulton Jefferies pitched well for the A’s, giving up two runs on five hits over six innings, but he couldn’t match Silseth. Jefferies (1-6) has lost his last six outings after starting the season with a win on April 10 in Philadelphia. He’s the first A’s pitcher to do so since Vin Mazzaro in 2009.
Rendon doubled off Jefferies in the fourth and scored when Brandon Marsh rolled a two-out single up the middle that just got past a diving Andrus and into center field.
Andrew Velazquez homered in the fifth to extend the lead to two runs.
DEFENSIVE GEM
A’s right fielder Ramón Laureano made a terrific sliding catch on his knees to take a hit away from Chad Wallach leading off the third. Laureano, who returned from the suspended list Monday, made the grab in front of center fielder Cristian Pache, who has made a handful of spectacular catches already this season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: LHP Cole Irvin (shoulder tendinitis) threw a bullpen before the game and is slated to pitch for Single-A Stockton on Tuesday.
UP NEXT
RHP Paul Blackburn (4-0, 1.74) will pitch the opening game of Saturday’s doubleheader for the A’s while LHP Jhonathan Diaz (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will go for the Angels. In the second game, Oakland plans to call up RHP Adam Oller (0-2, 11.17) from Triple-A Las Vegas. The Angels will go with RHP Michael Lorenzen (3-2, 4.13).