Nevertheless, the scene cast a shadow over an otherwise encouraging performance: Richards held the A's to just three hits, retiring 11 in a row at one point. He had early run support to boot, as the Angels jumped on A's starter Jharel Cotton for three runs in the second inning, later tacking on two more against the right-hander in the fifth to hand him his first career loss.
"Maybe not his best stuff," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "After the first, they made him work a little harder even though it was a couple bloops hits they got him for the first few runs in the second inning.