Angels 7, Athletics 1: Dan Haren gave up one run in six innings and visiting Los Angeles completed a three-game sweep in Oakland.

Torii Hunter had two hits and drove in three runs and Howie Kendrick added two hits and two RBIs as the Angels pulled within 2 1/2 games of the Athletics in the American League West and left them tied with Baltimore for the AL wild-card lead, 1 1/2 games ahead of Tampa Bay.

Haren (10-10) limited Oakland to three hits while striking out seven to reach double-digit wins for the eighth consecutive season and help the Angels improve to 8-1 in their last nine games.

Rookie Nick Maronde and Kevin Jepsen combined to strike out five in 1 2/3 innings in relief and the Angels outscored the Athletics 21-5 in sweeping a series in Oakland for the first time since October 2009.

The game featured a harrowing moment in the fourth inning when Athletics starter Brandon McCarthy (8-6) was knocked out of the game after getting hit in the head just above the right ear by a line drive off the bat of Erick Aybar.

McCarthy hit his head on the ground as he fell but did not lose consciousness. He was attended to by the team trainer while sitting on the mound and sent to the hospital, where he was kept overnight for observation.

Albert Pujols doubled in Los Angeles' three-run third to extend his hitting streak to 14 games - matching his longest since 2005 - and Maicer Izturis stole home in a four-run ninth inning as part of a double steal.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The team announced Wednesday night that McCarthy would not accompany the club to Seattle on Thursday afternoon. McCarthy allowed three runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings to fall to 1-4 lifetime against the Angels. ... Pujols reached 40 doubles for the seventh time in his career and has doubled in five consecutive games. ... The Athletics suffered their first three-game losing streak since Aug. 12-15. ... Maronde, who started the season in Class A, celebrated his 23rd birthday with three strikeouts in relief. He has fanned all four batters he's faced in his two major-league appearances. ... Oakland LF Yoenis Cespedes went 0-for-4 and has one hit in his last 16 at-bats. ... Angels ace Jered Weaver flew back to Los Angeles to have his bruised shoulder examined, putting his availability for this weekend's series against Detroit in question. ... Oakland is off Thursday and hits the road for seven games beginning with a three-game set at Seattle on Friday. Los Angeles returns home to face Detroit for three games starting Friday and will host the Athletics in a four-game series next week.