Angels 8, Athletics 3
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson had his way with the Oakland A's for the second time in six days Thursday night, and this time he didn't have to sweat the outcome.
Pounding out 12 hits, the Angels opened their four-game series against the A's with a no-doubt 8-3 victory at O.co Coliseum.
Albert Pujols went 3-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs for the Angels. Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo each drove in a pair of runs as well. Every Angels starter except Howie Kendrick had at least one hit.
A's catcher Derek Norris hit his sixth home run of the season, a solo shot in the sixth off Wilson.
Wilson improved to 3-0 against the A's this season after beating them in back-to-back starts. On Saturday at Anaheim, he blanked the A's for 8 1/3 innings in a 2-0 Angels win, outdueling right-hander Dan Straily, who allowed just two runs over seven innings. Wilson wasn't quite that sharp Thursday in the rematch, but he didn't need to be with the Angels roughing up Straily and the A's bullpen.
Wilson allowed three runs on five hits over seven innings, striking out six and walking three. He threw 123 pitches, 73 for strikes. Straily allowed five runs on seven hits over just 4 1/3 innings, falling to 6-4.
Wilson improved to 11-6 and won for the seventh time in his past eight starts. Before facing the A's on Thursday, Wilson had gone 6-1 with a 1.69 ERA over his past seven starts, striking out 40 and walking just nine.
The first-place A's remained three games ahead of Texas in the American League West. The Angels trail the A's by 10 games, but they've won four of their past five games against Oakland.
The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Erick Aybar led off the inning by lining a single to left for the Angels' first hit off Straily. Aybar was forced out on J.B. Shuck's ground ball to second, but Shuck advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Then, with two outs, Pujols lined an RBI single up the middle.
Oakland answered with two runs in the fourth. Yoenis Cespedes worked a leadoff walk, stole second, advanced to third on Nate Freiman's ground-out and scored on Wilson's wild pitch. Chris Young doubled to right and scored on Derek Norris' sharp single to left.
Trailing 2-1, the Angels erupted for four runs in the fifth, knocking Straily out of the game. Aybar led off with a walk and moved to third on Shuck's hit-and-run single to center. Trout brought Aybar home with a sacrifice fly to deep right as Josh Reddick made a leaping catch.
Pujols grounded a single to left that got past third baseman Josh Donaldson. Josh Hamilton followed with an RBI single to center, scoring Shuck. Trumbo then lined a two-run double to left-center, driving in Pujols and Hamilton and knocking Straily out of the game.
The Angels added three more runs in the sixth, extending their lead to 8-2.
NOTES: Hamilton (right ankle stiffness) returned to the starting lineup after missing three games. He batted fourth and played right field. ... A's catcher John Jaso (concussion) was placed on the seven-day disabled list. Jaso left Wednesday's game at Houston in the eighth inning after being hit in the mask with a foul ball for the third time in four games. Jaso has reached base in each of his 27 starts at catcher, dating to May 4. The A's recalled C Stephen Vogt from Triple-A Sacramento to take Jaso's spot on the 25-man roster. Vogt hit .154 with a home run and two RBIs in four games with the A's -- all starts at catcher -- during a stint from June 25 to July 3. He's batting .324 with 13 home runs and 58 RBIs in 74 games with the River Cats. ... RHP J.C. Gutierrez, who was claimed off waivers Wednesday from Kansas City, suited up Thursday for his first game as an Angel. In 25 relief appearances for the Royals, Gutierrez went 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA. He struck out 17 and walked eight. To make room for Gutierrez on the 25-man roster, the Angels designated RHP Billy Buckner for assignment. Buckner went 1-0 with a 4.67 ERA in seven appearances with the Angels, including two starts.
