The A’s got their first experience with MLB’s new extra inning rule, starting the 10th with Marcus Semien on second base as the automatic runner. Ramon Laureano stepped up and got hit by a pitch, bringing Matt Chapman to the plate. Chapman struck out, then the Angels intentionally walked Khris Davis to load the bases. That brought Oakland slugger Matt Olson up against Hobie Milner, a 29-year-old lefty making his season debut. Milner had just been called up, and the moment got away fast. Olson sat on an off-speed pitch and crushed the first one he saw for a walk-off grand slam. The entire stadium reacted, including security staff trying to sneak a look. Even the catcher gave up and didn’t bother watching it sail.
Joe Maddon came out for the pitching change and barely broke a jog, clearly not thrilled with the situation. Milner’s debut went about as poorly as it could, and Olson made sure there was no doubt about the outcome. In the post-homer celebration, Tony Kemp botched the Gatorade toss. Kemp, not the tallest guy on the team, tried a sideways angle instead of going straight up and immediately knew he messed up the form. Everyone gave him some grief, and he admitted it needed work. Laureano, meanwhile, may have taken out a wildlife casualty with his celebration toss.