‘Crank’ Thomas cranks 3-run bomb to power A’s past Angels. ‘It’s really awesome’
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Colby Thomas powered the A’s with a 3-run homer and went 3-for-3 before exiting.
- Jack Perkins struck out seven over five innings for his second win.
- Shea Langeliers and Nick Kurtz added homers as A’s offense overwhelmed Angels 10-3.
Among the plethora of young Athletics players turning heads this season, the team’s No. 5 prospect Colby Thomas has been somewhat of an afterthought, outside of a memorable outfield assist in his June 30 debut.
American League Rookie of the Year frontrunner Nick Kurtz, defensive stud Denzel Clarke, All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson and the “Bulldog” Jack Perkins who has made his way into the rotation after debuting in late June have all had their fair share of headlines.
But on Friday, Thomas, nicknamed “Crank” as a part of the MLB Players’ Weekend festivities, showed why he deserves to be in that conversation by launching a 433-foot, 107.5 mph-exit velocity moonshot that scored three and keyed an A’s 10-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels at Sutter Health Park.
“Getting hits early in games leads to more confidence, you’re not stressing about results,” Thomas said. “It’s really not all about results, but when you see the results it’s really awesome.”
Following his debut as the A’s No. 2 prospect, Thomas was quickly sent back down after going 1-for-11 in five games but returned to the big leagues after Clarke went on the injured list with a right adductor strain July 22.
While Thomas looked better in the 15 games before Friday since getting recalled, slashing .242/.308/.394, he had also struck out 17 times in 33 at-bats. After going 3-for-3 before getting pulled for Lawrence Butler in the sixth, Thomas is now hitting .255 with a .749 on-base plus slugging percentage and is building a case to keep his spot with the big-league club.
“It’s unbelievable, he deserves it all. He’s worked his tail off to get here and then to have the success, it wasn’t a matter of if, but when,” said Perkins, who played with Thomas on the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators earlier this season. “Now that he’s getting some more consistent at bats, you’re starting to see it all come together for him.”
After taking the series-opener, the A’s improved to 55-69 while the Angels, who were coming off a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers (69-53), fell to 59-63. The teams will continue the series at 7:05 p.m. Saturday and finish it with a Sunday matinee at 1:05 p.m.
‘Bulldog’ goes 5 innings despite high pitch count
Perkins earned his second MLB win on Friday, but he has yet to give up fewer than three runs in his first three big league starts.
While the 25-year-old right-hander was able to avoid giving up multiple runs in his first two frames, unlike his prior two starts, it was Angels shortstop Zach Neto’s 20th homer of the season that gave up the second and third runs in the fifth inning before he was pulled.
In just under 20 innings out of the bullpen this season Perkins held a 2.75 ERA, which has ballooned to 4.28 since he joined the rotation.
“He’s a swing-and-miss strikeout guy,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “Being that type of pitcher, he’s going to use a lot of pitches, and it’ll be challenging sometimes to get through five innings with those three-ball counts.”
Despite some struggles as a starter, Perkins has continued to display impressive strikeout stuff and set a new career high with seven on Friday. He said all of his four-pitch mix — cutter, sweeper, changeup and fastball — were working during his 103-pitch outing, which was highlighted by a strikeout of future Hall of Famer Mike Trout.
“I didn’t really process it until I got into the dugout,” Perkins said of striking out Trout. “He’s just a joy just to get the opportunity to play against and he’s a tough at bat, he worked two walks on me. Mike Trout is awesome and it’s definitely something I’ll remember.”
Langeliers, bullpen continue hot streaks
A’s catcher Shea Langeliers who, two weeks ago, couldn’t remember the last time he hit in the leadoff spot, hit his second leadoff home run of August on Friday in the first inning, and later added a single to his day. In his first game in the spot on Aug. 5, Langeliers tied the all-time catcher total-base record with 15 after launching three home runs, including a leadoff jack.
In 25 games since the All-Star break heading into Friday, Langeliers had been one of the best hitters in baseball, slashing .382/.404/.824 with 12 homers and nine doubles. His 25 four-baggers lead the A’s, just one above designated hitter Brent Rooker and Kurtz.
Every position player on the A’s roster got at least one at-bat in the high-scoring affair. Multiple long at-bats, including a 12-pitch walk from catcher Willie MacIver, against All-Star starter Yusei Kikuchi (3.37 ERA) helped knock him out of the game after just four innings.
“The start that (Kikuchi) made against us in May, he kind of dominated us so it’s nice to see the adjustments that the guys made,” Kotsay said. “Anytime you can have a 10-pitch at-bat, it definitely wears on pitchers. It’s a grind for them, both physically and mentally and I think (MacIver’s) was a big at-bat for us.”
On top of Langeliers and Thomas, Kurtz was an offensive highlight for the A’s. “The Big Amish” launched his first dinger since his historic four-home run performance on July 25, bringing him to 24 on the year. He also added a double and a single to go 3-for-5.
“OK, he’s back,” Kotsay said of Kurtz.
Rooker also contributed two hits including a double.
While the A’s bullpen’s combined 5.04 ERA is the third-highest in the majors, following a tough stretch in May and June that contributed to the team losing 20 of 21 games, it has shined as of late. In the team’s last 46 games, the bullpen holds a combined 3.11 ERA and a 5-3 record with nine saves and just one blown save.
On Friday, relievers Michael Kelly, Justin Sterner, Elvis Alvarado and Ben Bowden all tossed scoreless frames while relieving Perkins, halting any hope of an Angels comeback. The relievers only surrendered one baserunner, a sixth-inning walk to Christian Moore, in four frames of work.
“My job is just to give us a chance to win. I did that and then you’re just able to pass it off to the bullpen to keep it in check,” Perkins said. “I’s really reassuring when they’re pitching as well as they are, that you have full confidence they’re going to get it done.”
Wilson, Clarke off to rehab assignments
Both Clarke and Wilson, two everyday players for the A’s, are nearing returns from injuries and will begin rehab assignments this weekend.
Clarke, who was placed on the injured list July 22 with a right adductor strain, played 3 2/3 innings of center field for the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators on Friday and went 0-for-2 with a run. The 25-year-old center fielder is 10th in the majors in Outs Above Average with 12, which Clarke has racked up in just 47 games this season.
Wilson, 23, is scheduled to join Clarke in Las Vegas on Saturday after beginning to play catch earlier this week. After playing in the July Classic the A’s first fan-elected All-Star since 2015, Wilson went on the IL July 29 with a left forearm fracture related to a hit by pitch he suffered before the break.
The All-Star shortstop was slashing .312/.354/.439 with 10 home runs before his injury.
Before Friday’s game, Kotsay said both Clarke and Wilson would see reps at their normal positions mixed in with days off so they can “build up” before returning to the A’s.
A’s ace Luis Severino, who went on the 15-day IL with a left oblique strain Aug. 9, also began playing catch earlier this week.
This story was originally published August 15, 2025 at 11:35 PM.
