The Angels went into Oakland with a five-game win streak and beat the A’s 3-1 to move the streak to six.
The Angels never trailed in the game, scoring first with solo homer in the first by Macier Izturis. They added another in the third, though unearned, by Vlad’s single. Vlad went 2 for 4 with an RBI in his first game back after missing the Seattle series. They added another in the seventh when Gary Matthews Jr. doubled and scored off Jeff Mathias’s RBI-single to make it 3-0.
John Lackey earned his second win for his performance, giving up just one run on four hits through seven innings with 5 K’s. His only mistake was a solo shot to Jack Cust in the seventh. Lackey moves to 13-3 against the A’s, 7-2 at McAfee Colliseum. Jose Arrendondo pitched an inning for the hold and K-Rod had a 1-2-3 ninth for his 25th save, with 22 straight to tie the club record, his own, for most consecutive saves.
The Angels go for their 21st road win today, sending Jon Garland to the mound to go for his sixth win. He will face lefty rookie Greg Smith, who is 3-4. Garland is 0-5 in his last seven starts against the A’s, but in his last six outings, he has given up three or fewer runs.
