Rookie Cotton pitches A's past Angels
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Right-hander Jharel Cotton allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings in his major-league debut, leading the Oakland Athletics to a 4-1 victory against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday at the Oakland Coliseum.
Cotton (1-0) gave up two hits, struck out three, walked two and threw 102 pitches before leaving to a standing ovation.
The A's acquired Cotton and two other pitchers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 1 in exchange for Josh Reddick and Rich Hill.
Before being called up Wednesday from Triple-A Nashville, Cotton went 3-1 with 2.82 ERA in six starts and came within one out of a perfect game on Aug. 9 against Round Rock.
Rookie Ryon Healy hit his seventh home run of the season for the A's, a solo blast in the seventh inning. Yonder Alonso went 3-for-5 with a double, drove in a run and scored once. Brett Eibner had two hits, including an RBI double.
C.J. Cron hit his 16th home run of the season, a solo shot leading off the seventh inning for the Angels.
Sluggers Mike Trout and Albert Pujols were out of the starting lineup, leaving the Angels without their top two home run and RBI threats.
Right-hander Alex Meyer (0-2) gave up one run on one hit over 3 1/3 in his Angels debut and fifth major-league appearance. Meyer, who was acquired from Minnesota in a trade on Aug. 1, struck out five, walked four and threw 68 pitches.
Meyer struggled with his control but used his mid-to-high 90s fastball and a sharp curve to keep the A's in check.
Oakland went hitless over the first three innings, but Alonso led off the fourth with a double to right-center.
Alonso scored on Max Muncy's one-out single to left against reliever Jose Alvarez. Left fielder Nick Buss' throw home beat Alonso, but the ball came out of catcher Jeff Bandy's glove before he could attempt a tag.
Eibner brought Muncy home with a double to right-center, making it 2-0.
The A's extended their lead to 3-0 in the fifth. After Marcus Semien lined a leadoff single, Jhoulys Chacin walked the bases loaded, and Alonso drilled an RBI single to right.
Cron launched Cotton's 3-and-2 pitch for a leadoff home run to center field in the seventh, with Eibner nearly making a leaping catch, but the ball tipped off his glove and went over the wall.
Healy answered with a solo homer with one out in the bottom of the frame, lining Brett Oberholtzer's first pitch into the left field seats.
After Cotton exited, Ryan Dull, Liam Hendriks and Ryan Madson combined to hold the Angels scoreless and hitless over the final 2 2/3 innings. Madson pitched a one-two-three ninth for his 29th save.
NOTES: Angels CF Mike Trout and 1B Albert Pujols were out of the starting lineup Wednesday, getting days off. "These guys are grinding," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Trout and Pujols, who combined for 58 home runs and 198 RBIs through the Angels' first 138 games. ... Angels RHP Daniel Wright, who was claimed on waivers from Cincinnati on Sunday, will start Saturday against Texas, taking the place of injured RHP Matt Shoemaker (skull surgery) in the rotation. ... Angels OF Shane Robinson (right hip strain), who was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday, started in center field. ... A's rookie RHP Daniel Mengden will start on Friday in the opener of a three game series at home against Seattle. RHP Kendall Graveman will start on Saturday and RHP Raul Alcantara on Sunday. LHP Ross Detwiler will start on Monday at Kansas City in the opener of a four-game set. ... A's LHP Sean Manaea (strained upper back) threw an extended bullpen session on Wednesday and could rejoin the rotation during Oakland's upcoming seven-day trip, manager Bob Melvin said. ... OF Brett Eibner started in center field for the first time with Oakland.