Major League Baseball

Hits hard to come by in Angels' win over Athletics

Published Apr. 23, 2015 11:25 p.m. ET

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Hits were tough to come by against Oakland Athletics starter Jesse Chavez on Thursday.

Chavez allowed only one in six innings of work as he made his first start of the season for Oakland. Chavez made Angels hitters look like, well, the 2015 version of themselves.

"He didn't miss many spots," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Chavez. "On the offensive side, it was a long day for us."

While the Angels' might have had a "long day" at the plate, Chavez will have an even longer night after finding himself on the losing end of the decision. 

Baseball's a cruel game.

The lone hit for the Angels was a two-run home run off of the bat of Kole Calhoun against the A's starter in the third inning. That hit was all that the Angels needed and that was all of the scoring the game would provide in the Angels 2-0 win to end the four-game series in a tie.

Calhoun became just one of two players in MLB history to have a two-run home run as his team's only hit in a win. Former American League MVP Zoilo Versalles is the other. 

It's no secret, the Angels bats have been extremely quiet to start the 2015 season. And Thursday was no exception.

"We held on," Scioscia said. "We're still searching for some continuity in the batter's box."  

The Angels are hitting .213 on the season which is tied for last in Major League Baseball.

Helping the team in spite of its ineffectiveness at the plate was Nick Tropeano on the mound, who was making a spot start of his own for the Angels. Tropeano was called up Wednesday from Triple-A Salt Lake after starter Matt Shoemaker was placed on the Bereavement List.

In his debut with the Angels, Tropeano struck out five in six-plus innings. He allowed five hits and walked just one, becoming the first Angel since Jered Weaver to win his debut while throwing six-plus shutout innings. 

Scioscia was non-committal about what's next for Tropeano. It's believed he will be sent back down next week once Shoemaker returns to the Angels' rotation.

Thursday, however, his stuff was exactly what the Angels needed.

The Angels got one-hit and won. The result could be worst.

"I've seen us lose on a no-hitter, so winning on a one-hitter feels a lot better," Scioscia said. 

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