The Angels want to take that next step forward. They want to string together wins, start vaulting teams in the American League wild-card standings and prove they are something better than what their record says they are.
But, without any more games to play until Friday’s trade deadline, their record says they are .500 — 51-51 after they opened a pivotal four-game set against the Athletics with a 4-0 loss.
The A’s got on the board early, plating three first-inning runs after Dylan Bundy loaded the bases to start the game. A Jed Lowrie groundout scored the first run.