Game Preview: Athletics At Angels

(AP) - Contributions from up and down the lineup helped Oakland turn the tables on the Los Angeles Angels.

The Athletics hope Jesse Sanchez can serve as an effective stopgap in the rotation and help them to a series victory Thursday night against the Los Angeles Angels.

Oakland (8-8) pounded out 18 hits, including 16 singles, in Wednesday's 9-2 win, a day after allowing 15 in a 14-1 loss. Seven A's had two or more hits, including Billy Butler, who hit his third homer, drove in four runs and improved his average to .377. He has hit safely in all but one game this season and is batting .408 with five homers and 22 RBIs in his last 13 at Angel Stadium.

The Athletics also stole four bases and have been successful on all 11 attempts in their last eight games after not attempting a steal in their first eight.

Chavez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is making his first start of the season, filling in for Jesse Hahn, who is skipping a turn to let a blister on his middle finger heal.

"Jesse Chavez is a good guy to have in your pocket when something like that happens," manager Bob Melvin told MLB's official website.

The right-hander has thrown 6 2-3 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts over four appearances and converted his lone save opportunity. He was 8-7 with a 3.44 ERA in 21 starts last season, but was beaten out for the final spot in the rotation by Drew Pomeranz this spring.

Chavez is 1-3 with a 3.99 ERA in 13 career appearances against the Angels, going 0-1 and giving up three earned runs over 13 innings in two starts last year.

Nick Tropeano will make his Angels debut after being recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to fill in for C.J. Wilson. Wilson was pushed back to Saturday against Texas because of a stiff elbow.

Tropeano was 1-3 with a 4.57 ERA in four starts last season for Houston before being traded in November along with Carlos Perez in exchange for Hank Conger. The 24-year-old didn't have a decision in two outings for the Bees, giving up five runs in 11 innings while striking out 12.

The right-hander was 0-1 with a 4.41 ERA in four spring games, including three starts.

"First of all, he has really good stuff," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Nick is a guy that has a sneaky fastball, good command in and out, and he's got really good secondary pitches - his change-up and breaking ball. And he competed really well in the spring. So we're excited to give him the ball (Thursday)."

Los Angeles (6-9) came up empty with runners in scoring position for the third time in five games, going 0 for 5 to fall to 7 for 42 with 13 strikeouts in that span. Matt Joyce is 0 for 16 in his last five games and 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position on the season while Erick Aybar is 1 for 11.

Oakland is capping the first of two 10-game trips within its first 33 contests.

Updated April 23, 2015