A's Slam Angels in 1st MLB Game With New Extra-Inning Rule
OAKLAND (AP) -- In the first major league game with the new, unpopular extra-inning rule, automatic runner Marcus Semien began the bottom of the 10th on second base and scored on Matt Olson's grand slam, sending the Oakland Athletics over the Los Angeles Angels 7-3 Friday night.
Olson, whose alert throw from first base nailed Angels free runner Shohei Ohtani in the top of the 10th, connected with one out. The A's gathered around home plate to greet him on opening night.
Major League Baseball instituted the controversial extra-inning runner rule for this season to keep games from dragging on amid a compressed, 60-game schedule that started late because of the virus outbreak.
Ohtani wasn't quite ready for it: The broadcast showed the Japanese star in the dugout wearing a pullover when the ninth inning ended. Caught off-guard, someone reminded him he needed to go to second and he quickly got organized.
Ohtani tried to advance on Jared Walsh's grounder, but was tagged out in a rundown.
After Semien took second, the A's loaded the bases against Hansel Robles (0-1) on a hit by pitch, wild pitch and a walk.
New Angels manager Joe Maddon brought in reliever Hoby Milner and, with a five-man infield in place, Olson hit the first pitch far over the right-field wall.
According to STATS, Olson became the third player to hit a walkoff grand slam on opening day. He joined Sixto Lezcano (1980 Brewers) and Jim Presley (1986, Mariners).
Burch Smith (1-0) went one inning for the win.
The game went to the 10th tied at 3 after Jason Castro's tying homer in the ninth against A's closer Liam Hendriks.
The Angels didn't deliver a win for Maddon in his Angels managerial debut. Maddon joined the Angels following five seasons guiding the Chicago Cubs.
Many of the Angels, including Justin Upton and Brian Goodwin, took a knee for the national anthem while A's players Khris Davis and Tony Kemp raised a right fist to the air.
Los Angeles opened the season in Oakland for a fourth straight year.
TWO DECADES
At age 40, Albert Pujols earned his 20th consecutive opening day start in as many years — the fifth player to start the opener in 20 straight years. The others: Pete Rose, Carl Yastrzemski, Eddie Murray and Frank Robinson.
He went 0 for 3 with a walk.
"Pretty spectacular, isn't it?" Maddon said. "That puts it all in perspective how great he is, what his career has looked like, just to get 20 opportunities, right, you've got to be good. We've had a lot of great conversations lately, he and I. Very happy for him and his family. I know it's important to him. He's definitely ready to rock and roll."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: New 3B Anthony Rendon missed the opener with an oblique injury. "He's been progressing, I'm encouraged," Maddon said.
A's: LHP A.J. Puk, on the injured list with a strained shoulder, played catch. General manager David Forst said Puk would go to the club's alternate site in San Jose when the club hits the road. Puk had cortisone and platelet rich plasma injections Monday. "It's going to be at least a couple weeks of just playing catch," Melvin said. "We're a ways off before we have an update on him."
WHAT A FEAT
David Rinetti, A's vice president of stadium operations, marked his 40th opening day with the organization after working his first in 1981 as a high school junior. He received a 113-page document to get the ballpark ready in two weeks.
"It's pretty incredible. It was a lot of work," Rinetti said.
UP NEXT
LHP Sean Manaea, who went 4-0 last season in September after returning from shoulder surgery before losing the wild card game, pitches Saturday opposite Angels RHP Dylan Bundy.
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