On Wednesday, April 5, the Athletics (1-2) and the Angels (2-1) battled it out in Oakland in their third game of the Opening Week series. The Angels had the advantage of their hitting at just the right times to get their second straight win against the Athletics.

Right-hander Garret Richards held the Athletics to only three hits, retiring 11 in a row at one point in the game. The Angels got three runs out of A’s starting pitcher, Jharel Cotton in the second inning and added two more runs in the fifth inning to give Cotton his first career loss.

“Maybe not his best stuff,” said A’s manager Bob Melvin. “After the first, they made him work a little harder even though it was a couple bloop hits they got him for the first few runs in the second inning.”

Shortstop, Andrelton Simmons got the Angels on the board with an RBI double in the second inning, and a two-run single by second baseman, Danny Espinosa followed. Centerfielder, Mike Trout and first baseman, Albert Pujols had back-to-back run-scoring singles in the fifth inning.

“We played good baseball,” said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. “We had some clutch hits, had a lot of opportunities tonight and got five runs. Our bullpen did a terrific job.”

The Athletics and Angels will finish the series Thursday, April 6 in Oakland.