Angels 6, A's 2
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Right-hander Matt Shoemaker pitched seven strong innings, right fielder Kole Calhoun hit his 21st home run, and the Los Angeles Angels snapped their four-game losing streak with a 6-2 victory over the Oakland A's on Tuesday night at the O.co Coliseum.
Shoemaker (7-9) allowed one run on five hits, struck out five and walked two. He won his second consecutive start since being recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake, where he lost his lone outing. In his previous major league start, Shoemaker threw 7 1/3 shutout innings in a 2-0 victory at Detroit.
Calhoun went 3-for-5, drove in two runs and scored twice as the Angels (66-66) got back to .500. Leading off the seventh inning, Calhoun launched a solo shot off A's reliever Dan Otero into the right field seats, extending the Angels' lead to 6-1.
Third baseman Brett Lawrie hit a solo home run in the first inning for the A's, who scored a run in the ninth off closer Huston Street.
Right-hander Cody Martin (0-1), who was called up Tuesday from Triple-A Nashville, lasted only three innings in his first major league start and his A's debut. Martin gave up five runs and six hits with one walk and no strikeouts. He went 2-3 with a 5.40 ERA in 21 relief appearances for the Braves before being traded to Oakland on Aug. 2.
A's right-hander Ryan Dull pitched a scoreless eighth inning in his major league debut.
The A's struck first, taking a 1-0 lead on Lawrie's home run in the first inning, his 14th blast of the season.
The Angels surged ahead in the third inning, scoring four times off Martin. Catcher Carlos Perez lined a leadoff single and moved to third on second baseman Taylor Featherston's sharp single to right.
Calhoun beat out an infield single, driving in Perez. Martin walked center fielder Mike Trout, loading the bases, then drilled designated hitter Albert Pujols in the ribs, forcing in a run. Calhoun scored on left fielder David Murphy's groundout, and first baseman C.J. Cron brought Trout home with a sacrifice fly.
The Angels extended their lead to 5-1 with a run in the fourth. Third baseman David Freese lined a leadoff single and moved to third on Perez's single, which ended Martin's outing. Freese scored when Featherston grounded into a double play.
NOTES: The Angels reinstated five players from the disabled list, including 3B David Freese (broken right index finger). OF Collin Cowgill (sprained right wrist), INF Taylor Featherston (upper back strain), OF Matt Joyce (mild concussion, back pain) and RHP Cory Rasmus (right forearm strain) were also activated. ... The Angels recalled RHP Michael Morin, RHP Nick Tropeano and C Jett Bandy from Triple-A Salt Lake. LHP Wesley Wright was selected from Salt Lake and added to the 40-man roster. ... Oakland promoted eight players from Triple-A Nashville. RHPs Cody Martin, R.J. Alvarez, Arnold Leon and Dan Otero and INF/OF Tyler Ladendorf were recalled. RHP Ryan Dull, OF Jason Pridie and C Carson Blair were selected from Nashville and added to the 40-man roster. ... The Angels are searching for a new general manager to replace Jerry Dipoto, who resigned July 1 amid speculation of differences with manager Mike Scioscia. "You hope that whoever comes in you're going to be on the same page philosophically," Scioscia said.