Hamilton, Trout Push Angels Past A's, 9-4
OAKLAND (AP) — Josh Hamilton homered and drove in three runs, Mike Trout also went deep and the Los Angeles Angels regained the best record on baseball, beating the Oakland Athletics 9-4 on Sunday night.
Erick Aybar had two hits and two RBIs and Kole Calhoun finished with three hits for the Angels, who ended a five-game losing streak to the A's in Oakland. Albert Pujols and Howie Kendrick each drove in a run as Los Angeles won for the ninth time in 12 games.
Alberto Callaspo and Andy Parrino homered for Oakland, which had won three of four to move into a tie for the top spot in the AL West.
Jared Weaver (14-7) struck out eight in 6 2-3 innings while improving to 7-1 with a 3.78 ERA in his last 13 starts. He allowed three runs and eight hits.
Scott Kazmir (14-6) matched his season highs in runs (seven) and hits (10) in three-plus innings.
Aybar contributed a two-run double when the Angels got to Kazmir for three runs in the second. Calhoun doubled home Aybar for a 3-0 lead.
Hamilton's two-run shot in the third traveled deep into the right-field bleachers. All 10 of his homers have come on the road. His sacrifice fly in the fourth gave the slugger eight RBIs in his last five games after driving in six over his previous 20 games.
Trout hit a leadoff drive against Jesse Chavez in the sixth.
Weaver had allowed just four hits until Josh Reddick led off the seventh with a single. After Derek Norris struck out, Callaspo hit a two-run shot. Parrino homered on the first pitch two batters later and Weaver was lifted following Coco Crisp's single.
TRAINERS ROOM
Angels: LHP Joe Thatcher (left ankle sprain) remains behind schedule and has yet to throw a bullpen session. The Angels may just wait the extra week and activate him when rosters are expanded. ... INF Grant Green (lower back strain) could start a rehab assignment soon.
Athletics: LHP Sean Doolittle (strained right intercostal) and INF Josh Donaldson (knee) each had an MRI during Sunday's game. Doolittle went on the 15-day disabled list while Donaldson, who hurt his knee in his last at-bat on Saturday, is day to day. Doolittle, who saved the previous two games against the Angels, is 1-3 with 20 saves and a 2.28 ERA in 54 relief appearances. He has struck out 80 in 55 1-3 innings.
ON DECK
Angels: LHP Wade LeBlanc (0-0, 7.36 ERA) gets his first start of the season against Miami on Monday night. LeBlanc pitched for the Marlins the past two seasons and is 1-1 against them for his career.
Athletics: RHP Jeff Samardzija (3-3, 4.07 ERA) takes the mound in Houston on Monday night. His five wins against the Astros are his most against any team.
