Sean Manaea impressive again despite A's 2-1 loss to Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Sean Manaea is an increasingly bright spot in another dark season for the Oakland Athletics.
The rookie pitched seven sharp innings of four-hit ball, but the Los Angeles Angels beat the A's 2-1 on Monday night when Ryan Dull bobbled Albert Pujols' weak grounder in the eighth, allowing Yunel Escobar to score.
Manaea extended his strong finish to the season by trading zeros with Jered Weaver over the first five innings. The left-hander has allowed one run in 18 innings over his last three starts after a two-week absence with a back strain.
"He's everything that we want him to be," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "Aside from a few outings early on ... he's been borderline dominant, and against good lineups. He's been good all year long."
Manaea is second among AL rookies with 119 strikeouts while starting 23 games, but he also yielded Mike Trout's 29th homer early in the Angels' fifth victory in six games.
Stephen Vogt homered in the sixth inning for the last-place A's, who have lost six of seven.
After Manaea left, the Angels broke through against Dull (5-5). Escobar singled, advanced on Kole Calhoun's double and scored when Pujols got his 119th RBI on a 45-foot grounder back to Dull, who bobbled it just enough to stop him from throwing home.
Weaver pitched five scoreless innings of one-hit ball, retiring Oakland's first 14 batters before Danny Valencia's fifth-inning single.
The veteran used his deception and control to flummox the A's in what could be his penultimate start at the Big A. The stalwart of the Angels' rotation since 2006 doesn't yet have a contract for next season, but he has strung together a series of solid starts down the stretch.
"It's a little weird," Weaver said. "It's different, something I've never gone through or dealt with before, not knowing what the future holds. It was a little emotional coming down the tunnel here."
Weaver was removed after just 71 pitches when his back tightened up on a 90-degree night in Anaheim, but he doesn't think the injury will stop him from pitching Sunday in the season finale.
J.C. Ramirez (2-1) worked the eighth and former A's closer Andrew Bailey earned his sixth save for the Angels (70-87), who opened their final homestand of the season needing to go 6-0 to match their worst record since 1999. Los Angeles has missed the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons.
BIG FISH
Trout homered leading off the fourth, driving in his 98th run. The AL MVP candidate hasn't let up despite the Angels' woes: He drew his major league-best 111th walk in the sixth inning to set a career high, and added his 112th walk in the eighth, pulling one behind Tony Phillips for the franchise record.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: OF Josh Lambo rejoined the team for batting practice three months after testicular cancer surgery. He's hoping to play winter ball next month.
Angels: RHP Garrett Richards will throw live batting practice Wednesday. He hasn't faced hitters since tearing an elbow ligament in May.
UP NEXT
Athletics: Daniel Mengden (2-8, 5.74 ERA) has the lowest winning percentage in the AL, but is 2-1 with a .232 opponents' batting average on the road this season.
Angels: Ricky Nolasco (7-14, 4.60) has won his last two starts, throwing 13 scoreless innings. He also threw a shutout at the Big A earlier this season.