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Wilson, Angels blank A's

Jul 21, 2013 - 5:09 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - C.J. Wilson worked 8 1/3 shutout innings as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim blanked the Oakland Athletics, 2-0, in the middle test of a three-game set.

Wilson (10-6), who has won six of his last seven starts, scattered three hits and two walks while fanning eight.

"I tried to stay ahead of them tonight. I don't strikeout everybody, so I tried to use the defense as much as possible. I had more pitches in the mix tonight and I was able to hit my spots," said Wilson.

Ernesto Frieri stranded the game-tying run in the ninth to nail down his 24th save of the season.

Alberto Callaspo hit a solo homer and Josh Hamilton drove in a run for the Angels (46-49), who moved within three games of .500.

Dan Straily (6-3) was touched for two runs on eight hits over seven innings to absorb the loss.

The Halo's took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Mike Trout was hit by a pitch, moved to third on an Albert Pujols single then scored on Hamilton's sacrifice fly to left field.

It would be the only run support Wilson would need. The lefty gave up a single to open the second inning then retired the next 18 batter before issuing a leadoff walk to Derek Norris in the eighth inning.

"We're in a little bit of an offensive funk. C.J. pitched well tonight and kept the ball down. We're grinding, but we're not getting any results," said A's manager Bob Melvin.

Callaspo added a solo homer in the seventh to make it a two-run game

Game Notes

Callaspo stroked his first homer since June 9 ... Trout extended his hitting- streak to 12 games ... LAA is 32-12 when scoring first this season ... Pujols owns a .355 batting average (1072-for-3200) in the second half of the season, tops among active players and fifth in MLB history ... Oakland lost for just the 12th time this season when its starting pitcher lasts at least seven innings ... The A's have scored three runs or fewer in each of their last eight games.