​Denzer Guzman delivered the go-ahead run with a two-out single in the seventh, lifting the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-2 win over the Athletics on Saturday night. The Angels added two insurance runs in the eighth on RBI singles from Oswald Peraza and Logan O’Hoppe. Angels reliever Ryan Zeferjahn earned the win after retiring two in a scoreless seventh, his latest stretch of dominance extending to 10 scoreless innings with 19 strikeouts over his last nine appearances. Kirby Yates closed things out with a 1-2-3 ninth for his 100th career save and his second of the season.
Josh Lowe sparked the decisive rally with a one-out single off left-hander Geoff Hartlieb in the seventh, then stole second and scored on Guzman’s hard grounder down the third-base line that Max Muncy couldn’t field, giving Los Angeles a 3-2 lead.
In the eighth, Sam Bachman snuffed a potential big inning by striking out pinch-hitter Carlos Cortes on a 100 mph sinker with the bases loaded, and then getting Muncy to fly out.
Reid Detmers took the mound for the Angels and worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out eight and walking three. He increased his total to 112 strikeouts, ranking third in the majors behind Jacob Misiorowski (146) of Milwaukee and Dylan Cease (128) of Toronto. A’s starter Jack Perkins allowed two runs on four hits in five innings, fanning five and issuing one walk.
The Athletics grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second when Jonah Heim launched a first-pitch fastball over the left-center field wall for a 445-foot homer, his seventh of the year. Los Angeles answered with two runs in the fourth, starting with Nolan Schanuel’s walk and Jorge Soler’s single. Wade Meckler struck out, but Jo Adell followed with a two-run triple to left field for a 2-1 advantage.
The A’s tied it in the sixth as Nick Kurtz singled, Lawrence Butler drew a walk, and Colby Thomas delivered an two-out RBI single to left. The A’s lineup was already without injured shortstop Jacob Wilson and second baseman Zach Gelof, and they also lost Tyler Soderström in the third inning due to left hip soreness.
Up next, Athletics RHP Aaron Civale (5-4, 4.88 ERA) will face Angels lefty Sam Aldegheri (2-3, 5.47) in Sunday’s series finale.