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Weaver, Angels stifle A's with Cespedes out

Jul 20, 2013 - 5:46 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Jered Weaver shut down the A's again and in the process set a team record.

Weaver (4-5) tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings and the Angels got homers from Albert Pujols, Erick Aybar and Mike Trout in a 4-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics to open a three-game series between AL West rivals.

Weaver has thrown 24 2/3 straight shutout innings against Oakland, breaking the team record of 21 innings set by Bob Lee in 1964-65. Weaver, who is 7-1 with a 0.84 ERA versus Oakland since 2011, gave up four hits, four walks and had eight strikeouts Friday night.

"My slider was good tonight," Weaver said. "My pitch count was up and I tried to get through seven (innings). Our solo home runs helped out and the defense was there behind me."

The Angels, who were swept in a three-game set at Seattle prior to the All- Star break, got off to a good start against a team they'll see plenty of in the coming two weeks. Seven of the Angels' first 10 games out of the break are versus Oakland.

A.J. Griffin (8-7), who had won his previous three decisions, allowed six hits and four runs over five innings to suffer his first loss since June 15.

The A's, who came out of the All-Star break in sole possession of first place in the AL West for the first time since 1990, got their only run in the ninth on Chris Young's RBI double.

The Athletics, who played without Home Run Derby champion Yoenis Cespedes (left wrist soreness), have scored three runs or fewer in each of the last seven games and are batting .165 with 13 runs scored over that span.

"He was a late scratch. He took swings in the batting cage and his left wrist felt sore. I would not think it was related to the Home Run Derby," A's manager Bob Melvin said.

J.B. Shuck legged out an infield hit and Trout walked to start the bottom of the first. After Pujols lined out, Josh Hamilton stroked an RBI double to right field when Josh Reddick couldn't make a diving catch.

Pujols belted his 16th homer of the year in the third, a shot to left.

Aybar went deep to right, tight to the line, to start the fifth. One out later, Trout homered to left-center.

Weaver made the lead stand up by escaping a jam in the fifth. With two men on base, Chris Iannetta threw to first base to pick off John Jaso to end the inning.

When Eric Sogard bunted for a hit in the seventh that signaled the departure of Weaver. The right-hander was sent off the field to a standing ovation after throwing 118 pitches.

"Jered was unpredictable. He had a good slider and curveball," Melvin said. "It looked like we were a little off tonight, a little out of sync."

Scott Downs struck out Coco Crisp to end the frame, and Dane De La Rosa stranded a runner in scoring position in the eighth.

Young's hit to right field in the ninth scored Brandon Moss. Ernesto Frieri, who celebrated his 28th birthday Friday, relieved Kevin Jepsen and retired the ensuing three batters to record his 23rd save.

Game Notes

Griffin is the first A's pitcher to give up three homers in a game at Angel Stadium since Mark Mulder on Sept. 12, 2002 ... Weaver is the first pitcher to not allow a run in three consecutive starts against the A's since David Cone in 1996-1997 ... The A's send Dan Straily to the mound Saturday hoping to keep alive their series winning streak, which stands at six. It's the longest such streak since 2006 ... Oakland is 5-2 this season against the Angels, including 3-1 in Anaheim. The Angels have won just three times in the last 13 home games versus the A's.






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