Josh Willingham hit a three-run homer as part of a four-RBI performance and the Oakland Athletics continued their season-long success against the Los Angeles Angels with a 6-3 victory on Monday.

Willingham hit his team-leading 25th homer in the first inning off Joel Pineiro (6-7) and added a run-scoring single in the seventh as Oakland dropped Los Angeles three games behind idle Texas in the American League West race.

Gio Gonzalez (13-12) allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings to improve to 3-1 against the Angels this season. Gonzalez struck out six as Oakland won for the ninth time in 14 games against Los Angeles this season.

Brian Fuentes retired four straight batters and Grant Balfour allowed a homer to Vernon Wells in the ninth during a non-save situation. Oakland closer Andrew Bailey was unavailable after being in the head by a line drive during batting practice.

Scott Sizemore and Cliff Pennington had run-scoring singles in the fourth to give Oakland a 5-1 lead.

Los Angeles also scored on Wells’ run-scoring triple in the second and Erick Aybar’s seventh-inning homer.

Willingham and Kurt Suzuki each had three hits for Oakland.

Pineiro gave up five runs and five hits in three-plus innings.