Final
Angels' Weaver targets 6-0 start vs. Oakland
Apr 25, 2011 - 3:19 PM (Sports Network) - Angels starter Jered Weaver hasn't had much success as of late when facing the Athletics, but his start to this season suggests that could change tonight.Los Angeles, which saw its bats go cold over the weekend, hopes Weaver can improve to 6-0 on the season and snap its four-game slide as it begins a three-game series against the visiting Oakland Athletics.
Weaver is the first pitcher in the majors to record five wins over his club's first 18 games since Oakland's Dave Stewart in 1990. He'll take the hill tonight looking to become the first pitcher to win six games in his team's first 23 games since Randy Johnson did so with Arizona in 2002.
The right-handed Weaver is baseball's only current five-game winner this season and he leads the American League with a 1.23 earned run average and 39 strikeouts over 36 2/3 innings. He is coming off the fifth complete game of his career on Wednesday in Texas, giving up a run and six hits while striking out eight.
Weaver, though, is just 3-6 with a 3.45 ERA in 15 career starts against Oakland and the 28-year-old has beaten the Athletics just once in his last 11 starts against them. He went 0-3 in four starts in this series in 2010 with a 5.40 ERA.
Though not as red-hot as Weaver, Oakland starter Gio Gonzalez has also put together a solid 2011 so far. He went 2-0 over his first three starts, allowing just a run in 19 innings before giving up four over six innings of a loss to Boston on Wednesday. The lefty also struck out a season-best nine while seeing his 18 scoreless-innings pitched streak end.
"This is a tough team to keep down," said Gonzalez of the Red Sox. "It's one of those things where, you make a mistake, they're going to make you pay for it and that's exactly what they did."
The 25-year-old is 3-1 with a 3.29 ERA in five career starts versus the Angels.
Gonzalez gets to face an Angels offense that was outscored 20-5 while getting swept in four games by Boston. Los Angeles was shut out over the final two games of the set, including 7-0 on Sunday.
Matt Palmer gave up four runs in five-plus innings to take the loss, while Peter Bourjos had two of his team's six hits. The Angels had won seven of eight before getting swept.
"We have a lot of guys in our lineup that are struggling," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We're a good team but we're not where we want to be offensively."
Oakland, meanwhile, notched a 5-2 victory at Seattle on Sunday to split a four-game series. Josh Willingham had three RBI and Brett Anderson pitched seven strong innings to earn the win, giving up two runs, including one earned.
"It was big to split the series, come out and put up some runs like we did [in Saturday's 9-1 win] and to score some runs late to extend the lead," said Anderson. "I like where we're at."
The Athletics have won two straight and five of eight, and could have right- handed reliever Michael Wuertz back in the bullpen tonight. Wuertz has been on the disabled list since April 6 due to a left hamstring strain.
The Angels have won 10 of their last 16 against the A's, taking seven of nine at home against them last year.
- OAKLAND: 0
LOS ANGELES: 5
Final
Apr 26 12:29 AM - Erick Aybar singled to center scored Howie Kendrick, advances to second on Coco Crisp's error. Runner on second with none out and Mark Trumbo due up.
Athletics 0, Angels 4 Bot 4, 0 OutsApr 25 11:13 PM - Bobby Abreu doubled to left scored Peter Bourjos. Runner on second with none out and Torii Hunter due up.
Athletics 0, Angels 3 Bot 3, 0 OutsApr 25 10:50 PM - Howie Kendrick singled to right scored Vernon Wells and Alberto Callaspo. Runner on first with none out and Erick Aybar due up.
Athletics 0, Angels 2 Bot 2, 0 OutsApr 25 10:31 PM - OAKLAND: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Apr 25 10:09 PM
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