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The Los Angeles Angels tied a doubtful main league report after they smashed seven dwelling runs — all solo photographs — however nonetheless misplaced to the Oakland Athletics 8-7 on Thursday in Anaheim, California.
The Angels are simply the second workforce to hit seven solo homers and lose, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Info analysis. They’re additionally the primary workforce within the majors to hit seven solo homers and rating no different runs in a recreation.
“I suppose they all the time say solo dwelling runs do not beat you, however you are feeling like for those who hit seven, you would possibly. It did not work out for us,” Angels interim supervisor Phil Nevin stated.
Shohei Ohtani, who left Wednesday evening’s recreation as a result of a left forearm cramp, bounced again with two of the homers and two RBIs. It was his eleventh multihomer recreation within the majors and fifth this season.
Kurt Suzuki, Taylor Ward, Jo Adell and Jared Walsh additionally went deep for the Angels, who went 2-5 on their homestand. The seven homers additionally ties an general franchise report.
The Chicago White Sox in 2016 had been the one different workforce to hit seven solo dwelling runs and lose, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Info analysis. In complete, solely six groups have hit seven solo homers in a recreation, win or lose, in MLB historical past.
“In the present day was a little bit little bit of a special baseball recreation than I’ve in all probability been part of. It’s a very attention-grabbing field rating,” Oakland supervisor Mark Kotsay stated. “I am joyful that our eight held up, and we had been capable of get a win.
“The aim is to win the sport and rating extra runs. Solo dwelling runs on the finish of the day are good, however they do not essentially all the time provide help to win video games.”
Los Angeles led 2-0 after two innings on photographs by Ohtani and Suzuki earlier than Oakland broke it open within the third in opposition to Halos starter Janson Junk (1-1).
Mickey Moniak — acquired from Philadelphia on Tuesday as a part of the Noah Syndergaard commerce — homered to proper with one out within the ninth to get the Angels inside a run. Max Stassi drew a stroll, however Ward struck out and A.J. Puk obtained Ohtani to fly out to quick on the primary pitch for his third save.
Solo photographs by Ward and Adell within the third and fourth innings made it solely the second time in franchise historical past the Angels have homered in every of the primary 4 innings. The final time it occurred was Aug. 19, 2017, in Baltimore when Mike Trout went deep within the first and third and Luis Valbuena did it within the second and fourth.
It’s the third time it has occurred within the majors this season. The Los Angeles Dodgers did it Might 24 at Washington and the Minnesota Twins on April 10 in opposition to Seattle.
“It is clearly a constructive factor. I might have appreciated to get the win, however you understand, offensively we have been needing to select it up a little bit bit. So it was a constructive signal,” stated Ward, referring to the Angels batting .199 as a workforce in July.
The Dodgers had been the final workforce to hit seven solo dwelling runs on June 24, 2018, in opposition to the New York Mets.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
