OAKLAND, Calif. -- Not all athletes who suffer serious head injuries are able to overcome the physical and psychological wounds.
Exactly seven months after being struck in the head by a line drive that left him with a cracked skull, Matt Shoemaker looked every bit the same pitcher he had been.
Shoemaker tossed five effective innings in his return to the mound and Danny Espinosa hit a three-run homer in the ninth to rally the Los Angeles Angels past the Oakland Athletics 7-6 on Tuesday night.
It was Shoemaker's first regular-season outing since he was hit by a line drive off Kyle Seager's bat in Seattle last September, an injury that required surgery to stop bleeding in his brain. The right-hander wore a carbon-fiber insert under his cap to protect an area where a titanium plate was inserted on his skull.
"He's very determined," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's been very determined his whole career to get to this point. I think once he was physically fit, I think everyone felt that he would come back. He's got the perseverance to get back on that mound and hopefully have the success that he had before."
Shoemaker threw 99 pitches and labored at times. But he left with a 4-2 lead after allowing home runs to Jed Lowrie and Ryon Healy.
There was a bit of a scare in the fourth, when Stephen Vogt's broken-bat comebacker glanced off Shoemaker's hip.
"It felt pretty good. A little erratic with the location, but overall it felt pretty good," Shoemaker said.
The Angels trailed 6-4 in the ninth when Espinosa sent an 0-2 slider from Ryan Dull (0-1) over the fence in right-center.
"I just got a good barrel to it," Espinosa said.
Dull struck out Espinosa with a slider on Monday.
"One bad pitch," the reliever said. "It was down, but I have to get it a little bit lower. Especially with him. He hit 24 homers for a reason."
Jefry Marte's infield single got the Angels going in the ninth. Cameron Maybin followed with a single, and Andrelton Simmons reached on a fielder's choice that sent Marte to third.
Andrew Bailey (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win. Cam Bedrosian closed for his second career save and first this season.
Lowrie was 3-for-4 and nearly hit for the cycle. Right fielder Kole Calhoun's diving catch in the eighth robbed him of extra bases and likely the triple he needed.
Rajai Davis had a two-run triple for Oakland that barely reached the outfield grass. He scored on the play when Espinosa made an errant throw to third.
GAME CHANGER
Angels catcher Martin Maldonado showcased his powerful throwing arm, picking off Marcus Semien at first base in the second inning and catching Davis trying to steal second in the third. "That's what Martin can do," Scioscia said. "He's a game changer behind the plate."
HOMER HAPPY
The Angels homered against Oakland for the 17th time in 18 games and have won 31 of the past 48 meetings between the teams.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: RHP Huston Street, out since March 4 with lat strain, began his throwing program from 60 feet on flat ground.
Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray threw 25 pitches in his first bullpen session since sustaining a lat strain on March 7, manager Bob Melvin said. Gray used all his pitches and threw at full strength. He'll have at least one more bullpen before a rehab assignment. ... RHP Chris Bassitt will face hitters Wednesday for the first time since undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery last May.
UP NEXT
Athletics: Rookie RHP Jharel Cotton pitches Wednesday night against the Angels. He held opponents to a .208 batting average in six starts last season.
Angels: RHP Garrett Richards makes his first start since May 1, 2016. He underwent stem cell treatment in lieu of Tommy John surgery for a partially torn ligament in his right elbow.
Los Angeles Angels
Exactly seven months after being struck in the head by a line drive that left him with a cracked skull, Matt Shoemaker looked every bit the same pitcher he had been.
Shoemaker tossed five effective innings in his return to the mound and Danny Espinosa hit a three-run homer in the ninth to rally the Los Angeles Angels past the Oakland Athletics 7-6 on Tuesday night.
It was Shoemaker's first regular-season outing since he was hit by a line drive off Kyle Seager's bat in Seattle last September, an injury that required surgery to stop bleeding in his brain. The right-hander wore a carbon-fiber insert under his cap to protect an area where a titanium plate was inserted on his skull.
"He's very determined," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's been very determined his whole career to get to this point. I think once he was physically fit, I think everyone felt that he would come back. He's got the perseverance to get back on that mound and hopefully have the success that he had before."
Shoemaker threw 99 pitches and labored at times. But he left with a 4-2 lead after allowing home runs to Jed Lowrie and Ryon Healy.
There was a bit of a scare in the fourth, when Stephen Vogt's broken-bat comebacker glanced off Shoemaker's hip.
"It felt pretty good. A little erratic with the location, but overall it felt pretty good," Shoemaker said.
The Angels trailed 6-4 in the ninth when Espinosa sent an 0-2 slider from Ryan Dull (0-1) over the fence in right-center.
"I just got a good barrel to it," Espinosa said.
Dull struck out Espinosa with a slider on Monday.
"One bad pitch," the reliever said. "It was down, but I have to get it a little bit lower. Especially with him. He hit 24 homers for a reason."
Jefry Marte's infield single got the Angels going in the ninth. Cameron Maybin followed with a single, and Andrelton Simmons reached on a fielder's choice that sent Marte to third.
Andrew Bailey (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win. Cam Bedrosian closed for his second career save and first this season.
Lowrie was 3-for-4 and nearly hit for the cycle. Right fielder Kole Calhoun's diving catch in the eighth robbed him of extra bases and likely the triple he needed.
Rajai Davis had a two-run triple for Oakland that barely reached the outfield grass. He scored on the play when Espinosa made an errant throw to third.
GAME CHANGER
Angels catcher Martin Maldonado showcased his powerful throwing arm, picking off Marcus Semien at first base in the second inning and catching Davis trying to steal second in the third. "That's what Martin can do," Scioscia said. "He's a game changer behind the plate."
HOMER HAPPY
The Angels homered against Oakland for the 17th time in 18 games and have won 31 of the past 48 meetings between the teams.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: RHP Huston Street, out since March 4 with lat strain, began his throwing program from 60 feet on flat ground.
Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray threw 25 pitches in his first bullpen session since sustaining a lat strain on March 7, manager Bob Melvin said. Gray used all his pitches and threw at full strength. He'll have at least one more bullpen before a rehab assignment. ... RHP Chris Bassitt will face hitters Wednesday for the first time since undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery last May.
UP NEXT
Athletics: Rookie RHP Jharel Cotton pitches Wednesday night against the Angels. He held opponents to a .208 batting average in six starts last season.
Angels: RHP Garrett Richards makes his first start since May 1, 2016. He underwent stem cell treatment in lieu of Tommy John surgery for a partially torn ligament in his right elbow.
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Los Angeles - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Sean Manaea pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Escobar flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Calhoun grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Trout grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Matt Shoemaker pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| R. Davis lined out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Joyce grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Healy homered to center (417 feet). | 0 | 1 |
| K. Davis walked. | 0 | 1 |
| Vogt struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Sean Manaea pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Pujols struck out looking. | 0 | 1 |
| Marte walked. | 0 | 1 |
| Maybin singled to center, Marte to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Simmons singled to deep left, Marte to third, Maybin to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Espinosa flied out to right. | 0 | 1 |
| Maldonado singled to deep right, Marte and Maybin scored, Simmons to third. | 2 | 1 |
| Escobar singled to left, Simmons scored, Maldonado to second. | 3 | 1 |
| Calhoun grounded out to second. | 3 | 1 |
| 3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Matt Shoemaker pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Lowrie homered to right center (373 feet). | 3 | 2 |
| Plouffe grounded out to third. | 3 | 2 |
| Alonso grounded out to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Semien walked. | 3 | 2 |
| Semien picked off first. | 3 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Sean Manaea pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Trout grounded out to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Pujols lined out to center. | 3 | 2 |
| Marte struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Matt Shoemaker pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| R. Davis reached on infield single to shortstop. | 3 | 2 |
| R. Davis caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. | 3 | 2 |
| Joyce lined out to shortstop. | 3 | 2 |
| Healy walked. | 3 | 2 |
| K. Davis struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Sean Manaea pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Maybin struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| Simmons struck out swinging. | 3 | 2 |
| Espinosa grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Matt Shoemaker pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Vogt grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 2 |
| Lowrie doubled to deep right center. | 3 | 2 |
| Plouffe flied out to center. | 3 | 2 |
| Alonso flied out to left. | 3 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Sean Manaea pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Maldonado hit by pitch. | 3 | 2 |
| Escobar grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Maldonado out at second. | 3 | 2 |
| Calhoun walked. | 3 | 2 |
| Trout tripled to left, Calhoun scored. | 4 | 2 |
| Pujols grounded out to second. | 4 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Matt Shoemaker pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Semien struck out swinging. | 4 | 2 |
| R. Davis struck out swinging. | 4 | 2 |
| Joyce grounded out to first. | 4 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Sean Manaea pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Marte grounded out to third. | 4 | 2 |
| Maybin grounded out to second. | 4 | 2 |
| Simmons fouled out to first. | 4 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Blake Parker pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Parker relieved Shoemaker. | 4 | 2 |
| Healy struck out swinging. | 4 | 2 |
| K. Davis struck out swinging. | 4 | 2 |
| Vogt popped out to third. | 4 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Liam Hendriks pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Hendriks relieved Manaea. | 4 | 2 |
| Espinosa struck out swinging. | 4 | 2 |
| Maldonado grounded out to second. | 4 | 2 |
| Escobar struck out swinging. | 4 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Blake Parker pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Lowrie singled to right. | 4 | 2 |
| Lowrie to second on wild pitch by Parker. | 4 | 2 |
| Plouffe struck out looking. | 4 | 2 |
| Alonso singled to center, Lowrie scored. | 4 | 3 |
| Norris relieved Parker. | 4 | 3 |
| Semien doubled to right, Alonso to third. | 4 | 3 |
| R. Davis tripled to shallow right, Alonso and Semien scored, R. Davis scored on throwing error by second baseman Espinosa. | 4 | 6 |
| Joyce grounded out to second. | 4 | 6 |
| Healy singled to deep left. | 4 | 6 |
| K. Davis struck out swinging. | 4 | 6 |
| 4 Runs, 5 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Ryan Madson pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Madson relieved Hendriks. | 4 | 6 |
| Calhoun singled to center. | 4 | 6 |
| Trout struck out looking. | 4 | 6 |
| Pujols grounded into double play, third to second to first, Calhoun out at second. | 4 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Andrew Bailey pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Bailey relieved Norris. | 4 | 6 |
| Vogt flied out to center. | 4 | 6 |
| Lowrie lined out to right. | 4 | 6 |
| Plouffe grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Ryan Dull pitching for Oakland | LAA | OAK |
| Dull relieved Madson. | 4 | 6 |
| Marte reached on infield single to third. | 4 | 6 |
| Maybin singled to left, Marte to second. | 4 | 6 |
| Simmons grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Maybin out at second, Marte to third. | 4 | 6 |
| Espinosa homered to right center (383 feet), Marte and Simmons scored. | 7 | 6 |
| Maldonado lined out to left. | 7 | 6 |
| Escobar grounded out to shortstop. | 7 | 6 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Oakland - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Cam Bedrosian pitching for Los Angeles | LAA | OAK |
| Bedrosian relieved Bailey. | 7 | 6 |
| Alonso struck out swinging. | 7 | 6 |
| Semien fouled out to first. | 7 | 6 |
| R. Davis grounded out to second. | 7 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Los Angeles Angels
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escobar 3B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .333 | .333 | .333 |
| Calhoun RF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | .333 | .500 | .333 |
| Trout CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .375 | .375 | 1.125 |
| Pujols DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .000 | .125 | .000 |
| Marte 1B | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | .333 | .500 | .333 |
| Maybin LF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .250 | .250 | .250 |
| Simmons SS | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .286 | .375 | .286 |
| Espinosa 2B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .125 | .125 | .500 |
| Maldonado C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .167 | .286 | .167 |
| Totals | 34 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 136 | |||
| BATTING 3B: Trout (1, Manaea) HR: Espinosa (1, 9th inning off Dull 2 on, 1 Out) RBI: Maldonado 2 (2), Escobar (1), Trout (3), Espinosa 3 (3) 2-out RBI: Maldonado 2, Escobar, Trout GIDP: Escobar, Pujols Angels RISP: 4-8 (Maldonado 1-1, Calhoun 0-1, Escobar 1-1, Simmons 1-2, Espinosa 1-2, Pujols 0-1) Team LOB: 3 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Espinosa (1, throw) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA |
| Attendance | 11,225 (32% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:17 |
| Weather | 63 degrees, overcast |
| Wind | 11 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Angel Hernandez, First Base - Lance Barksdale, Second Base - John Tumpane, Third Base - Ted Barrett |
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