OAKLAND, California – The first major league game with an automatic runner on additional innings was decided with a bang rather than a tap.
Marcus Semien started the end of the tenth at second base under the unpopular new rule and scored on Matt Olson’s grand slam, sending the Oakland Athletics over the Los Angeles Angels 7-3 on Friday night.
Olson, whose alert pitch from first base nailed Angels free agent Shohei Ohtani to the top of the tenth, hooked up with one out. The Athletics gathered around the plate to greet him on opening night.
“It’s definitely interesting. There will be more excitement,” said Olson. “I think it would be a lot harder to go to the 17 or 18 inning games with a guy in second place. You would think that at some point someone will probably get hit.”
Major League Baseball instituted the controversial extra inning runner rule for this season to prevent games from dragging on amid a compressed 60-game schedule that started after a months delay due to the virus outbreak.
Ohtani, who had ended the Angels ninth, was not ready for that: The broadcast showed him on the bench in a jersey when the game went to extras. Surprised, someone reminded him that he had to go to the second and quickly got organized.
Ohtani tried to advance Jared Walsh’s initial landing, but was tagged in a summary.
“I feel like we’re going to see some different things with that,” Olson said.
After Semien finished second in the bottom of the tenth, the Athletics loaded the bases against Hansel Robles (0-1) in a shot for a pitch, wild pitch and a walk.
“Let’s see what we do,” former Athletics pitcher Dave Stewart wrote on Twitter, and then complained, “I suppose hitting is not an option?”
Then: “We don’t need any stinky touches.”
Angels new manager Joe Maddon brought in reliever Hoby Milner and, with a five-man inside box in place, Olson hit the first pitch well above the wall in right field.
Maddon was asked how the additional inning runner rule affected his strategy in the tenth.
“It is interesting for sure, it is [like] starting double at 10, so we got caught tonight, “he said.” As for the strategy, we come to the inner box of five men. We were ready to play that. Of course, the ball went over our heads. Nothing we can do about it. In everything we had been working on, the boys were ready for tonight, and we really appreciated it. “
According to STATS, Olson became the third player to reach an exit grand slam on opening day. He joined Sixto Lezcano (1980 Brewers) and Jim Presley (1986, Marineros).
Burch Smith (1-0) pitched an inning for victory.
The game went to the tenth tied at 3 after Jason Castro’s home run in the ninth against A closer Liam Hendriks.
The Angels were unable to achieve a victory for Maddon in his managerial debut with the team. Maddon joined the Angels after five seasons guiding the Chicago Cubs.
“We’re basically playing a third of a season, so it’s like losing a three-game series. That’s what it feels like,” Angels starter Andrew Heaney said.
Many of the Angels, including Justin Upton and Brian Goodwin, knelt for the national anthem, while Athletics players Khris Davis and Tony Kemp raised their right fists to the air.
Los Angeles opened the season in Oakland for the fourth consecutive year.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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