Athletics Trounce Angels

JJ Bleday celebrating a home run against the Angels with his Athletics teammates

Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

September 5, 2025

Athletics 10, Angels 4

A seven-run third inning powered the Athletics to a 10–4 win over the Los Angeles Angels Friday night in Anaheim, erasing an early deficit and snapping a two-game skid.

After the Angels jumped ahead 4–2 in the first, the Athletics offense erupted in the third, sending 13 men to the plate and chasing Angels starter José Soriano early.

Athletics – Angels Game Summary

The A’s struck first in the top of the first on consecutive batters. One run apiece scored on a double-play groundout by Tyler Soderstrom and a Jacob Wilson RBI single. But the Angels answered with four runs in their half on two straight bases-loaded walks, an RBI single, and a sacrifice fly.

The scoring in the decisive top of the third for the Athletics began with a bases-loaded infield single for Lawrence Butler to make the score 4–3 Angels. Zack Gelof followed with a game-tying single up the middle. Soriano’s wild pitch scored Wilson for a 5–4 lead. A three-run homer from JJ Bleday made the score 8–4 and ended Soriano’s night. After the pitching change, the Athletics loaded the bases again. Brent Rooker received an RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, making the score 9–4. They tacked on the tenth run in the ninth on a leadoff home run by Butler.

Athletics starter Mason Barnett settled in after a rocky first, lasting five innings with eight strikeouts despite five walks. Justin Sterner fanned four in two scoreless relief innings. Elvis Alvarado and Michael Kelly closed it out with a 1-2-3 eighth and ninth, respectively. Alvarado struck out one of his three batters, and Kelly struck out all three of his.

What Went Right for the Athletics

Offense

Ten runs on ten hits. Two homers and 16 total bases. Butler went 3-for-5 with a homer, two RBI, and two runs scored. Bleday was 1-for-4 with a homer and three RBI. AL August Player of the Month Shea Langeliers continued his torrid second half, going 1-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored. Every Athletics hitter in the starting lineup either got a hit, scored a run, or drove in a run. Even their lone double-play groundout still resulted in a run. And finally, the Athletics were 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position, a big improvement over their last two games in St. Louis.

Relief Pitching

Sterner, Alvarado, and Kelly combined for no runs, no hits, no walks, and seven strikeouts across four innings, keeping the Angels from mounting a comeback. The lone baserunner came when Sterner clipped Mike Trout with a pitch.

What Went Wrong for the Athletics

Early Command

In the first inning, Barnett walked three batters — two with the bases loaded, giving the Angels two runs — and hit a fourth. He allowed four runs before recording his fourth out.

Runners Left on Base

Not that it mattered much in the ultimate outcome, but the Athletics did leave nine runners on base. Five of the nine were in scoring position.

Looking Ahead

Barnett (1–1) earned his first big-league win, doing so in his second big-league start. Soriano (10–10) took the loss. There was no save.

The Athletics (65–77) and Angels (66–75) continue their three-game series Saturday with the second game. J.T. Ginn (2–6, 5.17 ERA) will start for the Athletics against Angels lefty Yusei Kikuchi (6–10, 3.83 ERA). First pitch from Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California will be at 6:38 pm Pacific.