Joe Saunders shut down Oakland for the second time this season and Erick Aybar had four hits as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the host Athletics 7-1 on Wednesday night.
Saunders (5-6) tossed a complete-game seven-hitter, walking one and striking out two. He came within two outs of a shutout before allowing Kevin Kouzmanoff’s run-scoring single.
Saunders shut out Oakland on four hits in a mid-May start in Anaheim.
Aybar’s biggest hit was a two-run triple that capped a four-run sixth inning that gave the Angels a 5-0 lead.
Juan Rivera and Robb Quinlan both had run-scoring singles earlier in the sixth. Rivera added his ninth homer of the year in the eighth as the Angels finished with 16 hits.
Torii Hunter had three hits, including an RBI single in the third inning.
Oakland starter Dallas Braden (4-6) is now 0-4 in six starts since throwing a perfect game against Tampa Bay. Braden was roughed up for five runs – four earned – and 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Daric Barton went 3-for-4 for the A’s and doubled in the ninth. He scored on Kouzmanoff’s single.
LA Angels | Oakland | |
Joe Saunders | Player | Dallas Braden |
Win | W/L | Loss |
9.0 | IP | 5.2 |
2 | Strikeouts | 4 |
7 | Hits | 11 |
1.00 | ERA | 6.35 |
LA Angels | Oakland | |
Erick Aybar | Player | Daric Barton |
4 | Hits | 3 |
2 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
7 | TB | 4 |
.800 | Avg | .750 |