Oakland looked off balance all night as they muster only two hits against Angels’ Jose Suarez
OAKLAND, Calif. — José Suarez added a second changeup to his pitching repertoire this season and it has given him “100% confidence” to offer batters different looks.Suarez struck out eight over seven superb innings to outpitch fellow lefty Cole Irvin, and the Los Angeles Angels edged the A’s 1-0 on Monday.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 08: Oakland Athletics' Ramon Laureano walks off the field after flying out to end the game in a 1-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 08: Oakland Athletics' Elvis Andrus throws to first base to complete a double play after tagging out Los Angeles Angels' Taylor Ward on a hit by Los Angeles Angels' Luis Rengifo in the sixth inning at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 08: Oakland Athletics' Elvis Andrus throws out Los Angeles Angels' Taylor Ward at first base in the third inning at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 08: Los Angeles Angels' Luis Rengifo celebrates his solo home run against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 08: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Cole Irvin kicks dirt on the mound after giving up a solo home run to Los Angeles Angels' Luis Rengifo in the first inning at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 08: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Cole Irvin throws against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 08: Oakland Athletics' Nick Allen fields a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels' Magneuris Sierra in the third inning at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. Sierra was out at first. Luis Rengifo homered in the first and it held up to provide dear friend Suarez with just enough support. “He’s like my brother. We grew up together,” Suarez said of his Venezuelan countryman from the same city, Naguanagua. “It’s great when he hits well and I pitch well and we win.” Suarez gave up two hits while earning his second straight win against the A’s. He hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last 18 innings. “Gifo’s ball was a bomb off a tough pitcher,” Angels interim manager Phil Nevin said. “I really like Irvin. He’s pitched well against us both times. We were able to get one across and that’s what we needed.” Aaron Loup worked the eighth and Ryan Tepera finished for his second save to close out the two-hit shutout in just 2 hours, 14 minutes. Irvin faced the Angels for a second consecutive start after losing to Los Angeles last Tuesday despite allowing just two runs in six innings. He took another tough defeat Monday night. Irvin struck out six, didn’t walk a batter and permitted five hits over eight innings. He’s still striving for his first career complete game, and he’s getting closer. “I don’t start a game with the thought that I’m coming out early. I start a game to finish it,” Irvin said. “Haven’t done that yet at this level, but that’s how I pitch. That’s how I’ve always been.” Steven Duggar, claimed off waivers Sunday from Texas, made his Angels debut when he entered to play left field in the eighth. OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 08: Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani walks on the field before their game against the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022. He did not play. Shohei Ohtani had the night off a day before he pitches for the Angels. Nevin gave the two-way star an option to rest Monday or Wednesday but Ohtani prefers to get out and move after a start on the mound so he is slated to play Wednesday’s series finale. On Sunday in Seattle, Ohtani was visited by trainers before his second at-bat after having his left foot stepped on by Mariners pitcher Marco Gonzales in a collision near the on-deck circle.Angels: OF Mickey Moniak broke his left middle finger on a bunt during Sunday’s 7-1 win at Seattle. He could play again this season. “I think we got the best news possible when you’re dealing with a fracture,” Nevin said. … RHP Archie Bradley is expected to soon begin a throwing program as he works back from a broken right elbow. Athletics: RHP Brent Honeywell Jr. is slated to throw a simulated game Friday in Arizona as he recovers from a stress reaction in his pitching elbow that has sidelined him all year. The A’s remain optimistic he will return this season in a role to be determined.The A’s recalled RHP Domingo Tapia from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned RHP Adrián Martínez to Las Vegas.In the dugout pregame, Nevin wished bench coach Ray Montgomery a happy 53rd birthday and confirmed he got him a gift. Details, please? Nevin hesitated, then said: “It’s a nice bottle of something. Really nice.”