Anaheim, CA – Jered Weaver pitched into the seventh inning and the LA Angels of Anaheim took a 4-1 win to cap a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox.
Weaver (19-4) gave up just one run on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts to win his third straight start. He became the first 19-game winner in the American League and third in the majors this season.
Albert Pujols hit a two-run double and Kendrys Morales followed that with a two-run home run in the sixth inning for the Angels, who have won five of their past seven.
The Angles stayed 2 1/2 games back of Oakland for the final wild card spot in the American League. The Athletics downed the Yankees earlier on Sunday.
Gavin Floyd (10-11) gave up four runs on seven hits with a walk and eight strikeouts over six innings while Dayan Viciedo drove in the lone run of the game for the White Sox, who have dropped their past five games.
"We were in position early to do some damage early but we couldn't cash in," said Chicago manager Robin Ventura. "That's a tough pitcher they had over there today and he got out of trouble."
Chicago holds a slim, half-game lead over Detroit for the top spot in the AL Central. The Tigers dropped the opener of a doubleheader with the Twins on Sunday, but could tie for the division lead with a win in the nightcap.
The White Sox loaded the bases in the first with one out, but Weaver got Alex Rios to strike out and A.J. Pierzynski to hit into a fielder's choice.
"It felt like a million degrees out there in the first inning," said Weaver. "I threw a bunch of pitches, but I was able to get out of it and settled down from there."
The game stayed scoreless until the Angels went ahead in the sixth inning. With one out, Mike Trout walked and Torii Hunter followed with a single. Pujols then doubled home two runners and Morales hit his 22nd homer of the season for a 4-0 lead.
The White Sox got one back in the seventh as Pierzynski led off with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Viciedo's sacrifice fly.
Kevin Jepsen then took over for Weaver and gave up a single to Alexei Ramirez, but then struck out Gordon Beckham and DeWayne Wise.
Jepsen induced an inning-ending double play by Paul Konerko in the eighth and three pitchers got an out each in the ninth to close the game for the Angels.
Game Notes
The Angels won five of the eight games with Chicago this season ... The Angels host Seattle for three games starting on Tuesday ... Chicago returns home to start a three-game set with Cleveland on Monday ...Weaver moved to 7-2 in 10 career starts against the White Sox ... Floyd fell to 2-6 in 10 starts against Anaheim.
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