Ohtani, Calhoun help Angels win 4th straight, 8-3 over A’s

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani and Kole Calhoun each hit two-run homers, Griffin Canning allowed only three hits over six innings and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Oakland Athletics 8-3 Thursday night for their fourth straight win.

Both homers were to center field and came on sinker pitches by Tanner Anderson (0-3). Calhoun’s drive gave Los Angeles a 2-1 lead in the second. Ohtani’s shot came during a five-run third that broke the game open.

Canning (3-4) surrendered both his runs on solo shots. Ramon Laureano lined a slider over the wall in left-center in the second and Matt Olson connected on a fastball in the fourth.

The right-hander struck out six and worked at least six innings for the sixth time in 11 starts.

Luis Rengifo had three hits, including a two-run single in the third that chased Anderson, who had his shortest outing in four major-league starts. The right-hander went 2 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs and eight hits.

It is only the third time this year, and first since late April, that the Angels have won at least four straight games. Their longest winning streak is six, which occurred the second week of the season.

STREAKS AND STATS

Ohtani became the fifth player in Angels history to have 10 or more HRs in his first two seasons. He joins C.J. Cron, Mike Napoli, Wally Joyner and Lee Thomas. … Laureano has five home runs and 15 RBIs over his last 14 games.

STAR GAZING

Mike Trout, who was named a starter for the AL for the July 9 All-Star Game, went 1 for 4 and drove in a run. Trout is batting .347 (34 for 98) with 10 HRs and 27 RBIs over his last 26 games.

FULL STRENGTH

Angels SS Andrelton Simmons went 1 for 4 after he was activated off the injured list. Simmons missed 34 games due to a right ankle sprain. It marked the first time this season Los Angeles has had its full lineup for a game after Ohtani and Justin Upton were on the IL to begin the year.

Simmons has a hit in 23 of the past 25 games he has played.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: RHP Blake Treinen (shoulder) threw 20 pitches on flat ground Thursday. He is expected to throw a bullpen session Saturday.

Angels: RHP Keynan Middleton will throw to hitters in Arizona Friday for the first time since undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery last year. It will be three more weeks before he could be activated.

UP NEXT

Athletics: RHP Mike Fiers (7-3, 4.20 ERA) has gone 5-0 with a 2.51 ERA in his last nine starters, including a no-hitter May 7 against Cincinnati.

Angels: Will go with an opener before turning it over to RHP Felix Pena (5-2, 4.68). Los Angeles have used an opener in 10 of Pena’s last 11 appearances.