Schuemann hits homerun, drives in 4 runs as Athletics beat Angels 13-3

The A’s, who scored 18 runs in the game before the All-Star break, have scored double figures in runs in their last two games, the most runs scored by any team in a two-game series this season.

“Hitting is contagious,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “This lineup, they feed off each other. We’ve got some power in this lineup. When these guys lock in, the ball jumps off their bats and goes over the fence, like we saw tonight.”

The A’s starting pitcher, JP Sears (7-7), pitched into the sixth inning and allowed two earned runs on solo homers by Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel.

“I think you’re seeing a lot of guys that are younger, they’re really comfortable with who they are,” Sears said of the team’s recent offensive success. “You’re seeing that at the plate, just the types of at-bats that we’ve had.”

Wilson, the A’s’ 2023 first-round pick and a top prospect according to MLB.com, left the game after pulling his hamstring while scoring on Lawrence Butler’s two-run triple in the third. Wilson, who had just singled in his first career plate appearance, was visibly frustrated in the dugout between innings and stretched his hamstring before leaving the game with a trainer.

Wilson, 22, also missed more than a month with a knee injury at Triple-A Las Vegas earlier this season. He hit over .400 in the minors.

“It was pretty devastating,” Wilson said of leaving the game. “This is a day you work your whole life for and I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time. I had three innings there and I can say it was the highlight of my life.”

Wilson added that it was “better safe than sorry” to come early. He said his first hit was “definitely a moment you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”

Kotsay hopes Wilson only has a mild strain, but pulled him from the game when he saw Wilson enter the field in the fourth inning.

“There’s no reason for us to push that kid if he has a lower-body injury that could get worse by him having to make a play for us or him not being able to make a play — and it hurts the team,” Kotsay said. “From that standpoint, I admire the kid’s passion and desire to be on the field, but at that point, it’s my job to make that decision.”

The A’s, who had won two of three road games against the major league’s best Phillies before the All-Star break, also won their fourth straight game against the Angels in front of an announced crowd of 11,596 at the Coliseum.

Angels starter Griffin Canning (3-10) allowed six runs in 3 1/3 innings before leaving the game with an elbow sore. Los Angeles has lost seven straight at the Coliseum.

“My goal for the second half is to figure out how to keep it going and be more consistent,” manager Ron Washington said before the game. “We just have to be more consistent. And if we can do that, the second half is going to be a great time.”

Angels: OF Mike Trout (knee) will face live hitters in Arizona before beginning a rehab assignment at Triple-A Salt Lake City. … 3B Luis Rengifo (wrist) took ground balls and hit off a tee on Friday.

Athletics: 3B Abraham Toro (hamstring) will play at least two more rehab games this weekend at Triple-A Las Vegas but is making good progress, manager Mark Kotsay said. … RHP Ross Stripling (elbow) is expected to throw 75 pitches Friday for Triple-A Las Vegas. … RHP Paul Blackburn (foot) is expected to throw between 60 and 70 pitches Saturday for Triple-A Las Vegas.

Athletics: RHP Mitch Spence (5-6, 4.75 ERA) will play for the A’s against RHP Jack Kochanowicz (0-1, 12.00 ERA) for the Angels.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb