Olson (2 homers) powers A’s past Angels

Matt Olson had two home runs and five RBIs before the end of the third inning, helping the visiting Oakland A's cruise to a 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night in Anaheim, Calif.

Olson connected against Angels opener Noe Ramirez in the first inning for a two-run homer, then hit a three-run homer in the third off Felix Pena, raising his season total to 16.

That was all that Oakland starter Mike Fiers needed, as the right-hander continued a string of impressive performances that dates to April and includes a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds on May 7.

Fiers (8-3) gave up one run on six hits and one walk in 6 2/3 innings, striking out four. He has made 12 consecutive starts in which he has allowed three runs or fewer, and has pitched at least six innings in eight consecutive starts.

The only offense the Angels could muster against Fiers came in the sixth inning when Shohei Ohtani reached on an infield single, took second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Albert Pujols, cutting Oakland's lead to 5-1.

But the A's responded in the top of the seventh, getting a two-run homer from Mark Canha to go up 7-1.

Fiers pitched into the bottom of the seventh, but was replaced with two outs and a runner aboard. After reliever Wei-Chung Wang allowed a single to Tommy La Stella, the Angels had two runners on base for Mike Trout.

A's manager Bob Melvin brought in Yusmeiro Petit, who ended the threat when he got Trout on a foul pop-out to the catcher.

Trout, who entered the game leading the majors with a .458 on-base percentage, did not reach base Friday, going 0-for-4.

The Angels, who scored in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Jonathan Lucroy, had eight hits in the game. Ohtani had three of them, and has five three-hit games this season.

--Field Level Media