Lawrie's blast powers A's, Gray in win over Angels
OAKLAND -- Brett Lawrie blasted a three-run homer to highlight a five-run first inning and Sonny Gray cruised from there, leading the A's to a 6-2 win over the Angels on Tuesday night at the Coliseum.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the A's, who moved to 9-12 and dropped the Angels to 9-11.
"After losing four in a row, it could have been easy for us to turn the switch off," Gray said. "But we responded."
Gray gave up two first-inning runs on a single by David Freese, but nothing else. The righty logged eight innings, scattering six hits, walking one and striking out six to put his ERA at 1.98. Angels starter Jered Weaver completed seven innings, but he couldn't fully recover from a rough first inning and is now winless in his first five starts for the first time in his career.
Video: LAA@OAK: Gray fans six Angels over eight strong
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Brett's blast: In the matter of a few minutes, Oakland wiped out its early 2-0 deficit by jumping all over Weaver for five runs in the first. The frame was highlighted by Lawrie's no-doubt, three-run shot to left field on the first pitch he saw from Weaver. After recording four RBIs through his first 18 games with the A's, Lawrie has driven in six the past two contests combined. More >
"I think it was a heater up," Lawrie said. "Happy to put up some runs for the boys and help Sonny out."
Recovering nicely: Weaver's first time completing seven innings this season came in a start in which he gave up five first-inning runs. Weird, and a testament to how well the veteran right-hander recovered from a demoralizing start. Weaver retired 12 consecutive batters after Lawrie's homer. His only mistake the rest of the night was allowing a solo shot to Josh Reddick in the sixth. Amazingly, Weaver completed six innings with only 86 pitches. More >
Video: LAA@OAK: Reddick crushes solo shot to right-center
Finishing strong: Gray was uncharacteristically wild to begin his evening, as he allowed five hits and a walk through the first two frames. But he faced the minimum 18 batters over his final six innings of work, with the only single he allowed wiped out by a double play. More >
Video: LAA@OAK: Vogt cuts down Joyce at second base
Botched hit and run: The Angels had a chance to rally once again in the second, after Matt Joyce led off with a single -- only his ninth hit in 58 at-bats this season. But with one out, the Angels could not execute a hit-and-run. Drew Butera awkwardly swung through a breaking ball and Joyce was subsequently thrown out at second. Butera and Johnny Giavotella followed with back-to-back singles, but the Angels didn't score that inning, or any other inning the rest of the way.
QUOTABLE
"This guy just knows his way through a game. He knows what he's doing. He will figure this out." -- Angels manager Mike Scioscia, expressing confidence in Weaver despite a tough start to the season
Video: LAA@OAK: Weaver whiffs Davis to end 3rd frame
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Weaver's 10th season is off to a rough start, at 0-3 with a 5.83 ERA. But at least he's pounding the strike zone. The ace didn't issue a walk for the third straight start on Tuesday. He's never done that in his career.
WHAT'S NEXT
Angels: Matt Shoemaker, previously on the bereavement list to deal with a personal matter, gets the ball in the second of a three-game series on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. PT. The 28-year-old right-hander had one of the worst starts of his young career eight days earlier, giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks in three innings against the A's.
A's: Right-hander Jesse Hahn will return to the mound on Wednesday after sitting out his last start with a blister on his middle finger. The 25-year-old has posted a 2.12 ERA in 17 innings this season, but he hasn't pitched in a game since April 18.
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