A’s to find crawl-off GS in debut of extra-inning rule

OAKLAND, Calif. — The first giant league game with an computerized runner in extra innings was once firm with a blast in want to a bunt.

Marcus Semien started the backside of the 10th on 2d unhealthy below the brand new, unpopular rule and scored on Matt Olson‘s sizable slam, sending the Oakland Athletics over the Los Angeles Angels 7-3 on Friday evening.

Olson, whose alert throw from first unhealthy nailed Angels free runner Shohei Ohtani within the top of the 10th, linked with one out. The A’s gathered round dwelling plate to greet him on opening evening.

“It positively is interesting. There would possibly be going to be more pleasure,” Olson talked about. “I feel it would possibly perhaps in point of fact perhaps well well be lots more sturdy to head to 17- or 18-inning video games with a guy on 2d. You would have confidence in the end someone’s potentially going to to find a knock.”

Main League Baseball instituted the controversial extra-inning runner rule for this season to preserve video games from dragging on amid a compressed, 60-game schedule that started following a monthslong lengthen as a consequence of the coronavirus outbreak.

Ohtani, who struck out to complete the ninth for the Angels, wasn’t comparatively ready for it: The broadcast confirmed him within the dugout wearing a pullover when the game went to extras. Caught off guard, someone reminded him he main to head to 2d, and he swiftly obtained organized.

Ohtani tried to come on Jared Walsh‘s leadoff grounder but was once tagged out in a rundown.

“I in fact feel be pleased we’re appropriate going to peek some assorted stuff with that,” Olson talked about.

After Semien took 2d within the backside of the 10th, the A’s loaded the bases against Hansel Robles (0-1) on successful by pitch, a wild pitch and a crawl.

“Let’s peek what we attain,” outmoded A’s pitcher Dave Stewart wrote on Twitter, then cracked, “I bet the bunt is rarely any longer an choice?”

Then: “We don’t resolve on no stinking bunt.”

New Angels manager Joe Maddon introduced in reliever Hoby Milner, and with a five-man infield in jam, Olson hit the primary pitch a long way over the correct-discipline wall.

Maddon was once asked how the extra-inning runner rule affected his technique within the 10th.

“It is interesting obviously — it is [like] a leadoff double within the 10th, so they obtained us tonight,” he talked about. “Strategywise, we obtained to the five-man infield. We were ready to play that. Useless to articulate, the ball went over our heads. Nothing shall we attain about that. Every little thing that we had been engaged on, the fellows were ready for tonight, and we in fact fancy that.”

Per STATS, Olson grew to change into the third player to hit a crawl-off sizable slam on Opening Day. He joined Sixto Lezcano (1980, Milwaukee Brewers) and Jim Presley (1986, Seattle Mariners).

Burch Smith (1-0) pitched one inning for the take.

The game went to the 10th tied at 3 after Jason Castro‘s tying homer within the ninth against A’s closer Liam Hendriks.

The Angels would possibly perchance well well not reveal a take for Maddon in his managerial debut with the team. Maddon joined the Angels following five seasons guiding the Chicago Cubs.

“We’re most continuously playing one-third of a season, so that is be pleased shedding a three-game series. That is what it feels be pleased,” Angels starter Andrew Heaney talked about.

Loads of the Angels, collectively with Justin Upton and Brian Goodwin, took a knee for the nationwide anthem, while A’s gamers Khris Davis and Tony Kemp raised a appropriate fist to the air.

Los Angeles opened the season in Oakland for the fourth straight year.

The Associated Press contributed to this document.