Moss leads A's to seventh straight win

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- After a two-game false start, everything is going right for the Oakland A's.

Brandon Moss drove in five runs, the A's pounded out 16 hits, and Oakland rolled to an 11-5 rout of the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday for their seventh win in a row.

Following two losses to the Mariners, the A's won the last two against Seattle, swept three against the Astros in Houston, and now they've won the first two of a three-game series at Angel Stadium.

"We got shut down the first two games, and we've been swinging the bats well since, and that can be very contagious," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "Guys here will work counts, work at-bats and pass it on to the next guy if they don't get something to hit. We feel our lineup is deep enough to where we can score in any inning, and at the bottom of the lineup as well.

"Any time you put a bunch of wins in a row, you just gain confidence with each and every one. This team is really good about playing for the day and preparing for the day."

Besides his fifth-inning solo home run, Moss had a two-run triple, a bases-loaded walk and an RBI single. The A's got three hits from Seth Smith and two each from John Jaso, Josh Donaldson and Eric Sogard. The five Angels pitchers who took the mound didn't help their cause by combining to walk seven batters.

"The first few runs we got were just guys getting on, and guys giving themselves up and getting runs in," Moss said. "That was just great selfless, team baseball.

"Obviously, the game turned out where we got on a roll offensively, but to see guys go up there and be selfless like that and not try to do too much, that sets the tone for the night. Everybody starts going up there and having good, quality at-bats instead of going up there and swinging for the fences every time."

Oakland starter Tommy Milone (2-0) didn't exactly shut down the Angels hitters, giving up four runs and seven hits in five innings, but he lasted long enough to get the win.

For the Angels, the loss was their sixth in seven games, and it resulted in Scioscia calling a closed-door team meeting after the game.

"The talent's in that room," Scioscia said. "Once we get productive and get rolling, you'll see that confidence level get to where it needs to be. We're going to get into our game and play our game more often. We have nobody to think about but our own club, and I think those guys in that room know we're going to play at a higher level.

"These guys are good, and we're going to turn this around."

Offense is not the problem for the Angels, who had 14 hits, including four from Albert Pujols. But Pujols and Co. couldn't score enough runs to overcome the pitching woes.

Angels starter Joe Blanton (0-2) gave up six runs and 10 hits in five innings. Four relievers combined to give up five runs in four innings.

"Everything's connected," Scioscia said of the pitching staff's problems. "For our bullpen to work and establish roles, our starting pitching has to pitch to a certain point of the game."

Until that happens, Scioscia said the Angels simply need to keep grinding.

"The reality of baseball is you have to put it behind you," he said. "But it's not something you take in stride. You don't take losing in stride."

NOTES: A's 2B Scott Sizemore suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Tuesday's game and will miss the rest of the season. It's the same injury to the same knee Sizemore suffered during spring training in 2012, causing him to miss all of last season. "It's just awful," Melvin said. Sizemore was hurt in Tuesday's game while trying to run down a blooper hit to shallow right field by Mike Trout. Sizemore had been platooning at second base with Eric Sogard. The A's called up infielder Andy Parrino from Triple-A Sacramento to take Sizemore's place on the roster. ... Angels SS Erick Aybar, who suffered a bruised left heel while running out an infield hit in the third inning Tuesday, was not in the starting lineup Wednesday. "Hopefully it's something that will calm down in the next couple days so we can get a read on it," Angels manager Mike Scisocia said. "Right now it's pretty sore." ... Angels INF Brendan Harris, who took Aybar's place Tuesday, was in the starting lineup at shortstop Wednesday. ... Angels RHP Jered Weaver (broken bone in left arm) was not wearing a sling Wednesday. Scioscia said Weaver is "definitely going to be able to throw the ball shortly." Weaver is expected to miss four to six weeks. ... The A's have hit 16 home runs, the top total in the majors.