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Instant Analysis: Five Takeaways From Athletics' Loss to Angels

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ANAHEIM - The A's offered up a sampler platter Monday of the traits that have marked their 2017 season, not that fans particularly cared for a reminder.

Their 3-1 defeat to the Los Angeles Angels included 14 strikeouts and an 0-for-8 showing with men in scoring position. They committed a seventh-inning error that resulted in an insurance run for the home team. And, when Daniel Gossett threw a wayward first-inning pitch that got by catcher Dustin Garneau, it accounted for the A's 73rd wild pitch of the season, setting a new franchise record.

It was that kind of a night as Oakland dropped the opener of a six-game road trip that takes the team through Anaheim and Seattle to play two clubs battling for a Wild Card spot.

The A's have amassed 1,216 strikeouts this year, making this just the third time in franchise history that they've surpassed 1,200 in a single season.

Angels lefty Andrew Heaney (1-0) proved a very tough customer in his third start back from Tommy John surgery, limiting the A's to two hits and striking out 10 over six innings.

Here's five things you should know as the A's began a six-game road trip that also takes them to Seattle:

SOLID NIGHT FOR GOSSETT: It was a ragged first couple innings for rookie starter Daniel Gossett, but the right-hander settled in and delivered a strong outing, holding the Angels to three runs (two earned) over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked one. In the first, Gossett struck out Albert Pujols and was trying to strand a runner at third when he hung a 1-2 curve ball that Kole Calhoun spanked for an RBI single. The Angels broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth on Kaleb Cowart's two-out run-scoring double to left. Gossett's night ended in the seventh when Ben Revere doubled and Martin Maldonado scored from first after Matt Joyce short-hopped a throw to second and Marcus Semien couldn't dig it out.

DIFFERENCE ON DEFENSE: The Angels made the plays in the field when they had to, including a running catch from Ben Revere in left to rob Chad PInder and save a run. In contrast, Khris Davis just missed a running catch in left on Cowart's drive that went for an RBI double.

GARNEAU'S MOMENT: : A's catcher Dustin Garneau, who is from Orange County, homered in the third for the A's only run and his first homer as an Athletic.

DH DUTY FOR LOWRIE: After suffering a shin contusion that forced him from Sunday's game, Jed Lowrie served as designated hitter against the Angels. He fouled a ball off the outside of his left shin, which was his back leg as the switch hitter batted from the left side. Lowrie said he told manager Bob Melvin he could have played defense Monday, but he wound up with a sort of half-day off as the DH.

STILL AWAITING WORD: Starter Paul Blackburn underwent a CT scan to see whether there actually is a fracture in his right hand. Melvin***** didn't have the results before Monday's game. The right-hander was hit by a liner on his throwing hand Tuesday at Baltimore and went on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 23.

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