Brent Rooker's two homers weren't enough as the A's fell to the Angels 6-5 on June 12. A 6-run inning, led by Jo Adell, sealed another tough loss for Oakland.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a story that's becoming painfully familiar for Oakland Athletics fans: a brilliant individual performance overshadowed by a single, disastrous inning. Brent Rooker did everything humanly possible to carry the team on his back Thursday, but it wasn't enough to prevent a 6-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, extending the team's miserable slide.
The A's have now lost 23 of their last 27 games.
Brent Rooker was simply on another level against the Angels. The slugger went 4-for-5, launching his 14th and 15th home runs of the season and adding a double for good measure. He scored three runs and drove in three, providing nearly all of the team's offense. It was a superstar-level performance that deserved a better fate, a rare bright spot in what has been a bleak month for the green and gold.
For five innings, it looked like Rooker's heroics might be enough. But the game completely unraveled in the sixth. The Angels erupted for six runs, capped by a go-ahead two-run homer from Jo Adell. The frustration was palpable, boiling over when starter JP Sears was ejected after being pulled from the game. Reliever Grant Holman was saddled with the loss, but it was a total team collapse in a single frame that doomed the A's once again.
The A's offense desperately missed its sparkplug. Rookie sensation Jacob Wilson sat out for the second consecutive game with a sore hamstring, and his absence was glaring. It's impossible not to wonder if having the MLB's second-leading hitter in the lineup could have changed the outcome. His .366 average represents a massive hole in the batting order, and the team needs him back healthy as soon as possible.
In an attempt to shake things up, the front office made a few moves earlier in the week. First baseman Nick Kurtz was welcomed back from the 10-day injured list, and catcher Austin Wynns was added to the active roster. To clear space, infielder Logan Davidson and catcher Jhonny Pereda were optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas. These moves show the team is actively searching for a combination that can break the current slump, but so far, the wins remain elusive.
It's another tough pill to swallow, but the season grinds on. The A's will need Jacob Wilson back in the lineup and a much cleaner performance from the pitching staff to snap this brutal skid. All eyes will be on the next game to see if they can finally put a complete performance together and reward fans, and Brent Rooker, with a much-needed win.
