The Oakland Athletics visited the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night to kick off a four-game series. The A's were hoping to take advantage of the Angels' struggles to begin the 2012 season, but unfortunately ran into Jered Weaver at the top of his game.
The Angels started off the scoring right away in the bottom of the first inning, as Kendrys Morales hit his first home run of the year, a three-run blast that would provide all the offense the Angels would need.
The score would remain 3-0 until the bottom of the eighth inning, when back-to-back doubles by Albert Pujols and Morales to start the frame brought an Angels run home. The Angels added added another as Andrew Carignan walked in a run with the bases loaded. On the next batter, Carignan threw a wild pitch to plate yet another run.
The A's threatened to rally in the top of the ninth, as reliever LaTroy Hawkins gave up a couple of infield hits and a two-out walk to load the bases. Jemile Weeks battled, but struck out swinging to end the game.
Weaver pitched 6.2 innings, giving up just five hits and one walk along with six strikeouts, one of which was the 1,000th strikeout of his career. A's starter Brandon McCarthy went seven innings, allowing five earned runs on 11 hits.
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