OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Chris Coghlan thinks the Oakland Athletics are a better team than they've shown during the first two weeks of the season. He hopes things change in a hurry.
"There are no ifs, ands or buts, we're struggling offensively," Coghlan said. "It's tough when you see the lineup that we have and the potential that we have. It's such a long year that as long as we stay positive, we'll be on the right side."
Matt Shoemaker pitched one-hit ball for six shutout innings, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the A's 5-1 on Wednesday to finish a three-game sweep.
"I think we're better than this," Coghlan said. "We can execute in certain situations better. Losing three in the division is tough. It's frustrating. Most of us are cold, so the good thing is most of us will get hot at the same time."
The A's bring a team batting average of .215 into their upcoming series with the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals.
"Right now it has a lot to do with the way we're swinging the bats," A's manager Bob Melvin said.
Mike Trout had three hits, scored three runs and stole a base. The Angels won their fourth straight.
Kole Calhoun got three hits and drove in two runs, and Albert Pujols also had two RBIs.
Marcus Semien hit his third home run in two days for the A's. Oakland fell to 1-6 at home.
Danny Valencia, who had two hits, and Coco Crisp were the only A's to get as far as second base against Shoemaker, who retired 11 of his final 12 hitters. The A's finished with three hits.
STARTING OFF
A's left-hander Eric Surkamp, who replaced the injured Felix Doubront in the starting rotation, has an ERA of 4.00 in his two starts and has mixed feelings about his performance thus far.
"I'm not too excited about how I've done but I'm not completely disappointed in myself either," he said. "I was happy, with not having my best stuff, about competing and grinding through it."
Surkamp got himself into some trouble with a high pitch count, needing 60 pitches to get through three innings.
"I definitely felt that later in the game," he said. "Early on I felt like I wasn't missing by much. I felt good about my stuff and my arm felt good."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: OF Khris Davis was given a scheduled day off. He entered the game hitting .167 with no homers, no RBIs and had struck out 14 times, matching the most in the majors. ... The combination of Billy Burns and Crisp at the top of the lineup is intriguing to Melvin. "With speed at the top of the lineup, in theory they should be fun to watch," he said. They combined to go 0 for 8 against the Angels, but Crisp did reach on an error and stole second.
UP NEXT
Athletics: LHP Rich Hill (1-1, 3.12) starts the series opener against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Friday night.
