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Gonzalez sparkles in A's 14-0 rout of Angels

May 18, 2011 - 6:20 AM Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Backed by a potent offense, Gio Gonzalez twirled seven sparkling innings and the Athletics routed the Angels, 14-0, to sweep a two-game series.

Gonzalez (5-2) allowed just one hit and one walk, throwing 62 of his 93 pitches for strikes and fanning seven in Oakland's third win in four games.

The A's didn't need anything else from him. They banged out 15 hits in the game and scored six of their runs in the sixth inning. Amazingly, their season-high 14 runs came without a homer.

"A real big night for the offense. It was nice to see," said A's manager Bob Geren.

The Angels, who have lost three straight and five of their last six, sent the minimum to the plate in seven innings and had only two hits in the game, getting the second one in the ninth.

The start of the game was delayed by 40 minutes because of rain.

Once it started, the Angels offense was anemic.

Maicer Izturis walked with two outs in the fourth for their first baserunner and Howie Kendrick singled to lead off the fifth for their first hit. He was erased when Alberto Callaspo lined into a double play.

Their only other baserunner came after Jeff Mathis singled off Trystan Magnuson, who made his major league debut. Craig Breslow had relieved Gonzalez in the eighth, pitching a perfect frame to back the near-flawless starter.

"Gio just had a great game," said Geren. "It was one of those nights -- he didn't need 14 runs, obviously."

He got 'em anyway, including seven runs -- five earned -- against Angels starter Tyler Chatwood (2-2). Three came in the second inning, when Mark Ellis and Kevin Kouzmanoff had RBI doubles and Coco Crisp added a run-scoring single.

The A's scored four in the third -- Ellis had an two-run single and Crisp an RBI double during the rally -- and one more in the fourth, when Hideki Matsui and Kurt Suzuki hit back-to-back doubles.

But the real outburst came in the sixth, when Oakland sent 11 players to the plate and scored six runs on four singles, three walks and a hit batsman. David DeJesus and Ellis hit RBI singles, Josh Willingham had a two-run base hit and Ryan Sweeney and Daric Barton drew bases-loaded walks.

The win moved Oakland into a tie for first place with Texas in the American League West and the sweep knocked the Angels a half-game back in the division.

"A psychological boost," Geren called it. "It's a small factor, but I feel positive going forward."

Game Notes

Chatwood lasted just 2 1/3 innings...Trevor Bell was charged with a run, Kevin Jepsen gave up five and Rich Thompson was charged with the other...The A's went 10-for-18 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base...Crisp and Ellis had three hits apiece and Ellis' four RBI led the team.