Joe Saunders outdueled Dallas Braden, and Hideki Matsui hit a three-run homer to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 4-0 victory over the visiting Oakland Athletics on Friday.
Saunders (2-5) went the distance and allowed just four hits for his first victory since April 17. He struck out six and walked two while pitching his second career shutout.
Braden, who pitched a perfect game against Tampa Bay in his previous start, took a shutout into the bottom of the sixth before the Angels erupted for four two-out runs.
Kendry Morales singled in Erick Aybar for the first run and Matsui followed with his three-run blast to right field.
Braden (4-3) gave up four runs and seven hits in eight innings. He struck out five and walked one in his first appearance since becoming the 19th pitcher in major-league history to pitch a perfect game.
Braden gave up his first hit with two outs in the first inning when Bobby Abreu doubled to left-center field.
Oakland | LA Angels | |
Dallas Braden | Player | Joe Saunders |
Loss | W/L | Win |
8.0 | IP | 9.0 |
5 | Strikeouts | 6 |
7 | Hits | 4 |
4.50 | ERA | 0.00 |
Oakland | LA Angels | |
Josh Donaldson | Player | Hideki Matsui |
2 | Hits | 2 |
0 | RBI | 3 |
0 | HR | 1 |
3 | TB | 5 |
.667 | Avg | .667 |