Anaheim, CA – Jason Vargas hurled seven scoreless innings to lead the LA Angels of Anaheim to a 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox in the finale of a four-game set at Angels Stadium.
Vargas (3-3) scattered four hits and struck out six to earn his third win in four starts. Ernesto Frieri picked up his ninth save of the season despite giving up a run in the ninth inning.
"I was able to get ahead with the fastball early and stay ahead," said Vargas. "My changeup command is huge and I was able to catch them off guard. They hit the ball hard, but right at people today."
Erick Aybar drove in three runs, Howie Kendrick knocked in a pair and Chris Iannetta added an RBI and a run scored for the Angels, who earned a split of the series after winning their second straight game.
Alex Rios hit an RBI double and Alejandro De Aza drove in a run for the White Sox, who lost for just the third time in eight games.
Jake Peavy (5-2) was charged with the loss after giving up four runs on four hits and five walks over six frames.
"It wasn't like Jake's velocity was down," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura of Peavy's high walk total. 'It was just uncharacteristic of Jake today."
Aybar got the Halos on the board in the third inning. Iannetta walked and J.B. Shuck singled to put runners on the corners for Aybar, who cleared the bases with a double into the corner in right field.
The Angels tacked on two more in the fourth. Iannetta worked a bases-loaded walk with one out. Peavy was able to get Shuck to pop out for the second out of the inning, but walked Aybar to force home Kendrick to give LA a 4-0 edge.
"We beat a good pitcher today," Scioscia remarked. "We did a good job in the batters box against [Peavy]."
Alexei Ramirez worked a walk in the eighth then scored on Rios' double to left field.
The Angels, though, added two more in the home half to take a 6-1 lead. Mark Trumbo singled and Josh Hamilton walked before Kendrick ripped a double down the line in left.
Frieri walked the bases loaded in the ninth and gave up a sacrifice fly to De Aza, but got Ramirez to fly out to end the game.
Game Notes
The Angels were 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position ... LA is 13-2 when leading after seven innings this season ... Peavy, who struck out seven, lost for the first time since April 9.
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