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Braden outduels Weaver as Athletics top Angels

Aug 26, 2008 - 5:31 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Dallas Braden outdueled Jered Weaver and rookie Daric Barton homered as the Oakland Athletics edged the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 2-1, on Monday.

Braden (4-4) allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings, while not issuing a walk or striking out a batter. He also made short work of an Angels' lineup missing both Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson. Anderson is nursing a sore left knee, while Guerrero was given a day off.

Frank Thomas had a pair of walks and scored on a wild pitch for Oakland, which managed just four hits off Weaver and two relievers. The A's will try for their first series win in 13 tries on Tuesday.

"My defense did most of the work tonight, I just went out there and pitched to contact," Braden said. "I just wanted to pitch well and keep us in the game against their explosive offense."

Mike Napoli homered for Anaheim, which has lost eight of 12.

Making his seventh start since joining the rotation after a stint in the bullpen, Braden retired 11 of the last 13 hitters he faced. His only mistake came to Napoli, who led off the sixth with his 14th home run of the season that cut the lead to 2-1.

"I was just trying to go with the pitch, got a pitch a little up and out in the zone and got good wood on it," Napoli said. "He went right after us and threw strikes early in the count."

But Joey Devine threw a perfect eighth and rookie Brad Ziegler converted his fifth save in as many chances by pitching the ninth.

"We got strong pitching performances tonight from Dallas and the bullpen, and it helped us beat one of the best teams in baseball," A's manager Bob Geren said.

Weaver, who had yet face the A's this season, allowed a one-out solo homer to Barton in the third.

"I got a little more of the pitch that he wanted to and I took advantage," Barton said. "I feel like my swing is getting there and I'm just trying to be more patient and swing at good pitches."

Weaver slipped up again in the fourth when he issued a one-out walk to Thomas. Jack Hannahan doubled and Thomas scored on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead.

"Jered pitched a terrific game, he just missed location on a pitch to Barton and had a pitch slip away from him that ended up in a big run for them," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Weaver allowed two runs and three hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in seven innings.

"I felt like I had some of my best stuff working for me tonight," Weaver said. "I just made a couple mistakes that ended up costing us a win."