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Weaver dazzles in seven innings as Angels edge Rangers

Apr 6, 2008 - 4:59 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Jered Weaver followed his mediocre Opening Day performance with an outstanding one on Saturday.

Weaver tossed seven scoreless innings as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim held on for a 2-1 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Weaver (1-1) was stellar in his second start, yielding just three hits with six strikeouts as he bounced back after getting tagged for three runs and eight hits in his season debut at Minnesota on Monday.

"Good (time) to turn the page and go out and pitch a good game in front of the home crowd," Weaver said. "Just want to go out next time and keep the team in the game like I did (Saturday)."

"He went out and kept us in this tight one," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He battled out there."

The 26-year-old righthander threw 93 pitches - 60 for strikes - against a Texas lineup that pounded Anaheim, 11-6, in Friday's series opener.

"I felt good out there from the beginning," Weaver said. "Got myself into a good rhythm and just went after there aggressive lineup."

The Angels opened the scoring in the fourth inning as Garret Anderson hit a leadoff single and came around two batters later on Howie Kendrick's RBI single off Rangers starter Kevin Millwood.

"Jered was pitching a strong game, and it was just good to get a run on the board for him," Kendrick said. "We would always like to go and give our pitchers a lot of runs, but a win is a win."

An inning later, Torii Hunter added a run-scoring double to double Anaheim's lead.

For the second straight outing, Millwood (0-2) held his own despite not getting any run support. The 6-4 righthander gave up two runs and 12 hits with five strikeouts in a complete-game loss.

"It was a good pitchers' duel," Millwood said. "Just wanted to keep us in the game and give our team a chance to win. We came out on the losing end in this one."

In the eighth, David Murphy belted a leadoff homer off Angels reliever Darren Oliver to cut the deficit to 2-1. But closer Francisco Rodriguez shut the door in the ninth for his third save.

"They kept our bats silent all night," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Just have to come back out here (Sunday) and try to take the series."

Anaheim had a chance to add a run with Erick Aybar on second in the sixth. But Gary Matthews Jr.'s single was scooped up by center fielder Marlon Byrd, who made a great throw home to get Aybar for the final out of the inning.