Athletics ride strong pitching to win over Angels

The win gave Oakland three of four over its California rival in the opening
series on American soil after the A's had lost two straight to Seattle in
Japan.

Extending a streak of consecutive shutout innings by Oakland starters to 23
2/3 innings before surrendering a home run to Kole Calhoun in the sixth
inning, right-hander Frankie Montas (1-0) carried a 2-1 lead into the seventh
before giving way to the A's bullpen.

Lou Trivino and Joakim Soria combined to retire six straight Angels, before
closer Blake Treinen, called upon again after going 1 2/3 innings on Saturday
night, worked around a nine-pitch walk to Mike Trout in a scoreless ninth for
his second save.

Oakland took a 2-0 lead into the sixth inning on the strength of Davis' solo
homer in the fourth and a two-out RBI single by Matt Chapman in the fifth.

Davis' homer, his third of the four-game series, came leading off the fourth
after Angels starter Tyler Skaggs (0-1) had taken a one-hit shutout into the
inning.

The A's doubled their lead in the fifth despite having a leadoff single by
Ramon Laureano erased by a double play.

Marcus Semien followed with a two-out double, ending Skaggs' day, before
Chapman greeted reliever Ty Buttrey with his run-scoring single.

Skaggs was charged with two runs and five hits in his 4 2/3 innings. He walked
one and struck out two.

Making his first career start against the Angels, Montas retired 16 straight
bridging the first and sixth innings before Calhoun took him deep with two
outs in the sixth to cut the Oakland lead in half. The homer was Calhoun's
first of the season.

Montas became the first Oakland starting pitcher to begin the seventh inning,
but it lasted just one batter. He was pulled after Justin Bour led off the
inning with a double.

The 26-year old allowed one run and three hits in his six-plus innings. He
struck out six and did not walk a batter.

Trivino pitched out of trouble in the seventh, retiring all three batters he
faced.

Semien and Chapman finished with two hits apiece for the A's, who out-hit the
Angels 7-3.

Calhoun complemented his home run with a double for the Angels, who totaled
just 22 hits in the four season-opening games.

Calhoun had five of the hits, including two doubles and his first homer.

--Field Level Media