Shea Langeliers' three-run home run in the first inning accounted for all of the runs for the Oakland A's, but they were enough in a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night in Anaheim, Calif. Oakland, which has beaten the Angels in eight of their past nine matchups, will go for a four-game sweep Sunday afternoon. Angels starter Tyler Anderson had allowed three runs or more in just eight of his first 20 starts, but he hit that mark in the first inning alone against Oakland.
Lawrence Butler led off the game with a single, stole second went to third on a one-out infield single by Brent Rooker. Langeliers then hit the first pitch he saw from Anderson -- an 89 mph fastball -- over the fence in center for a three-run homer, his 20th of the season. Anderson, the Angels' only All-Star, settled in and completed seven innings.
It was the eighth time Anderson (8-9) has gone at least seven innings. The Angels left-hander walked one and notched a career-high 10 strikeouts. The Angels' offense, however, gave Anderson little help.
The only run came in the third on Nolan Schanuel's homer to right field, his 11th of the season. A's starter Mitch Spence (7-6) then retired the next seven consecutive hitters until Jo Adell doubled with two outs in the fifth. Spence then got Schanuel to ground out.
In six innings, Spence allowed one run on three hits and two walks, striking out three. Austin Adams, Michel Otanez and Tyler Ferguson (second save) posted zeroes over the final three.