ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Mike Trout hit a two-run homer, Shohei Ohtani went 3 for 3 and the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Oakland Athletics 8-5 on Friday night in their series opener.
Taylor Ward also had a two-run shot for the Angels (79-81). If they can sweep the weekend series, they would finish with a .500 record in what is widely expected to be Mike Scioscia's final season as manager after 19 years.
The Yankees routed the Red Sox 11-6 earlier Friday to clinch home-field advantage in the AL wild-card game, leaving the A's to travel cross-country to play Wednesday night in the Bronx for the right to face Boston in the best-of-five Division Series.