Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Cliff Pennington and Kevin Kouzmanoff each homered during a six-run seventh, as the Oakland Athletics dominated the Angels, 8-0, in the opener of a three-game series.
Gio Gonzalez (13-8) tossed six scoreless innings for the Athletics, who snapped a four-game skid. The left-hander gave up four hits, struck out six, and walked three to pick up his third straight win.
Scott Kazmir (8-13) went 5 2/3 frames in the start for Los Angeles, allowing two runs on two hits to fall to 1-8 over his last 10 starts. He walked a season-high six batters and fanned three for the Angels, who have lost eight of their last 11.
The A's scored a run in the first inning without recording a hit. Daric Barton walked prior to Kouzmanoff andMark Ellis each being hit by pitches. That loaded the bases with two outs for Jack Cust, who walked to force in a run.
The Angels left at least one man on base over the first four innings.
Oakland added a run in the sixth to take a 2-0 lead. With men on the corners and two outs, Coco Crisp hit an RBI single.
Kouzmanoff got the big seventh inning started with a two-run homer to left. Ellis followed with a double and crossed the plate on Rajai Davis' one-out base hit that also knocked Jason Bulger out of the game. Pinch-hitter Gabe Gross hit an RBI single off Brian Stokes, stole second and scored when Pennington homered to right to make it 8-0.
Los Angeles failed to put a man on base over the last three frames until Juan Rivera's two-out single in the ninth.
Oakland and Los Angeles have split 14 games this season...The A's started a nine-game homestand on Friday...Kazmir fell to 9-5 lifetime versus Oakland... Gonzalez improved to 3-1 in five career starts against the Angels, who left seven men on base.