The Los Angeles Angels crept closer to the AL Wild Card lead, defeating the Oakland Athletics 6-0 on Thursday.
Jered Weaver returned from an injury and pitched a gem for the Angels, allowing no runs and only two hits in seven innings. He earned his 17th win of the season.
"Obviously we didn't want to get swept. Things didn't go the way we wanted them to the first three games, but those guys are playing good baseball and you can't take them lightly," Weaver told the Associated Press. "These guys are always scrappy, so it's going to be interesting down the stretch."
The Angels avoided a four-game sweep with the win and moved to only 3 1/5 games behind Oakland, the Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles for the Wild Card lead. The Orioles and Yankees are currently tied for the AL East.
The win snapped Oakland's 12-game road winning streak.
Weaver was pitching for the first time since Sept. 2, when he got hit on his arm by a line drive off of Seattle Mariners second baseman Dustin Ackley.
"There was no discomfort at all. I felt free and easy," Weaver said after his 94-pitch effort. "It's usually the (middle of the game) where it starts tightening up, and it's tough to go back out there and warm up again. But I didn't have that issue today. It's definitely comforting, knowing that you came out of the game throwing close to a hundred pitches and still feel good."
Weaver had nine strikeouts, including on six of the first seven outs he made.
Oakland starter Brett Anderson was making his fifth start since returning from Tommy John surgery in 2011. He gave up five runs and nine hits and lasted until the seventh inning.
"Obviously, you knew it was going to be a tough day, going up against one of the best pitchers in baseball. But you want to go out there and prove yourself and try to match him pitch for pitch," Anderson said after his ERA rose from 0.69 to 1.93. "I was able to do that through six, but I got a little tired in the seventh and fell behind. But for the most part, I was happy with the way I battled and got out of some jams."
Torii Hunter hit his 15th home run for the Angels, who scored all six runs in the seventh inning. After Hunter's home run, which was Anderson's first home run allowed this season, the Angels added another run off of Mark Trumbo's single.
"My whole career I've been a strong second-half hitter because I make adjustments. That's what baseball is all about, and that's what I've been able to do it with the Twins and with the Angels," Hunter said. "And because we're close to the playoffs, I think I go to another level and get that different adrenaline flow in the second half. That's what drives me."
Mike Trout later walked to load the bases and scored on a two-run single from Alberto Callaspo. Trout leads the majors this season with 115 runs scored and is one of the favorites for AL MVP and the Rookie of the Year award.
Hunter has been on a tear the past two months, hitting .354 in August with 18 RBI's. He has two home runs and is hitting .357 in the past seven days.
The Angels will open up a series on the road against the Kansas City Royals on Friday night, while Oakland hosts the Baltimore Orioles.
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