JP Sears #38 of the Oakland Athletics pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 31, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
OAKLAND – The booms, cracks and thuds echoing around the Oakland Coliseum weren’t Independence Day fireworks going off in the East Bay.
It was the sound of JP Sears’ diverse arsenal of pitches missing Angels’ bats and burying itself into catcher Kyle McCann’s glove in the A’s 5-0 victory over Los Angeles.
Along with a locked-in bullpen, Oakland’s pitching staff kept Angels’ bats quiet on the Fourth of July.
With Oakland attempting to close out its first sweep since the club beat Miami in three straight in early May, the left hander Sears got the start for the A’s and was seeking his first victory since May 25.
After rookie Joey Estes had electrified the Coliseum crowd the night before by throwing a complete game shut out, Sears kept the scoreless streak going, throwing five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out six in front of 11,956. The third-year pitcher improved to 5-7.
His day started smoothly, retiring the first six batters of the game. But the 28-year-old had to work his way out of a third-inning bases-loaded jam, inducing a popup to J.J Bleday in center field to end a stressful frame.
The A’s, wearing special red, white and blue July 4 hats, fared far better when they got two runners on against Angels starter Roansy Contreras with top hitters Miguel Andujar and Brent Rooker up to bat in the bottom of the inning.
Andujar plopped a soft single to left to drive in one, and possible all star Rooker singled a grounder through that same side of the infield to get another across and drive in his 50th RBI of the season. Tyler Soderstrom capped the scoring with a sac fly to center.
The Angels brought in former Giants pitcher Hunter Strickland after that, ending Contreras’ day after 2 ⅔ innings and with the visitors facing a 3-0 deficit.
The A’s tacked on another run in the sixth when shortstop Max Schuemann sacrifice bunted in a run, and initially appeared to beat out the throw to first. The decision was reversed after umpires consulted the replay booth.
Laurence Butler punctuated the victory in the eighth with his fourth home run of the season, and second of the series. Each team had four hits.
Keeping the winning streak alive will be a tall task considering Oakland’s next opponent.
The A’s will go from playing a bottom-feeder to hosting perhaps the American League’s most-talented team in the Baltimore Orioles and their endless treasure chest of young talent. It will be the A’s final home series before the All Star break.
Hogan Harris (1-2, .3.18 ERA) is expected to get the start for the A’s, and should face Albert Suarez (4-2, 2.43).
Longtime A’s assistant coach Aldrete stepping away
Oakland’s hitting coach Mike Aldrete is stepping away from the team as his wife Gina begins treatment for multiple myeloma at UCSF. The San Francisco Chronicle first reported the news.
Aldrete was drafted by the Giants out of Stanford, playing three years in San Francisco and spending another two and a half seasons in Oakland. The Salinas native has been on the A’s staff since 2015.
Originally published at Joseph Dycus