ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — David Fletcher’s return to the lineup has been timely for the Los Angeles Angels.
The second baseman provided a leadoff homer in Tuesday night’s 3-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics and has a hit in all four games he has played in since coming off the injured list.
“I’ve had a couple bumps in the road, but I feel alright,” said Fletcher, who missed 69 games due to a left hip strain.
Fletcher — who is 5 for 14 with three RBIs since coming off the IL — drove a fastball from Cole Irvin (6-8) over the left-field wall for the Angels’ fourth leadoff homer this season. Of the 13 times Fletcher has gone deep in his five-year career, six have come from the leadoff spot.
“We don’t expect many of those out of him, but when a game starts like that, it’s a big shot in the arm for the group and the energy picks up,” interim manager Phil Nevin said.
The win also gave the Angels a positive start to August after they went 6-18 in July and had a team batting average of .199 for the month.
José Suarez — the planned last-minute starter after Noah Syndergaard was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies before the game — didn’t allow an earned run in his second consecutive start. Suarez (3-4) went five innings and gave up an unearned run on five hits. He struck out five.
Jose Quijada retired the side in the ninth for his second save.
“I feel great and more confident with my pitches,” Suarez said through an interpreter. “Since after the All-Star break I feel better about my changeup and slider.”
The Angels added a run in the second due to a pair of Athletics errors. Jo Adell had an infield single with one out and advanced to second on a throwing error by Oakland third baseman Jonah Bride. Adell then scored when Andrus made a wild throw from shortstop into the…