Game result and context
Athletics rally past Angels 9-7 in series opener as both eliminated clubs close out 2026
Carlos Cortes and Zack Gelof hit two-run homers in a four-run bottom of the eighth, and the Athletics came back to beat the Los Angeles Angels 9-7. Denzer Guzman's three-run homer had helped the Angels build an early lead. The Athletics improved to 62-95, and the Angels fell to 60-97. Both teams are eliminated from division and wild-card contention.
Final result
The Athletics beat the Los Angeles Angels 9-7 at Sutter Health Park in the opener of a two-game regular-season series. Attendance was 7,711.
The win moved the Athletics to 62-95. The Angels dropped to 60-97.
How the game changed
The game turned in the bottom of the eighth. The Athletics trailed by one entering the inning and scored four runs, with Carlos Cortes and Zack Gelof each hitting a two-run homer to put them in front.
The Angels controlled the early innings. They scored once in the first, then added four in the third, when Denzer Guzman hit a three-run homer. Los Angeles added another run in the sixth.
The Athletics chipped back with two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh before the eighth-inning surge. The Angels scored once in the ninth but could not finish the comeback.
Key performances
Cortes had two hits in two at-bats, scored twice and drove in three runs for the Athletics. Gelof had one hit in three at-bats, scored once and drove in two. Lawrence Butler had three hits in four at-bats, scored twice and drove in a run, and Shea Langeliers had three hits in five at-bats with a run and an RBI.
For the Angels, Guzman had one hit in four at-bats, scored once and drove in four runs. Vaughn Grissom had three hits in four at-bats, scored once and drove in two. The Athletics hit two home runs to one for the Angels.
Season and playoff context
After this game, the Athletics sit fourth in their division, 16.0 games back, and 11th in the wild-card standings, 19.0 games back. The Angels are fifth in the division, 18.0 games back, and 12th in the wild-card race, 21.0 games back.
Both teams have been eliminated from division and wild-card contention in the 2026 season, so the result mainly affects the order near the bottom of the standings.
Series context
This was the first game of a two-game regular-season series between the Angels and Athletics. With the win, the Athletics took the opener.