Anaheim, CA – Bartolo Colon threw his third shutout of the season as the Oakland Athletics blanked the LA Angels of Anaheim, 6-0, to avoid a three-game sweep.
Colon (13-3) scattered four hits and a walk while fanning five to pick up his 10th win in 12 starts.
"My stomach was bad, but my arm was fine. I didn't have great power today because of my stomach. I threw a lot of inside pitches to right-handers. My two-seamer was my best pitch today," said Colon.
Eric Sogard hit a two-run homer and Brandon Moss had three hits and drove in a run for the A's.
Jerome Williams (5-6) gave up six runs -- four earned -- on eight hits over five-plus innings to absorb the loss.
"I think Jerome threw the ball well, but didn't have a lot of luck. Bartolo has a gift of command. He threw some good two-seamers. He's becoming more of a pitcher," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia.
Sogrard's two-run homer in the third gave the A's an early 2-0 lead. Chris Young doubled and Sogard followed with his second long-ball of the season, a lined shot down the line in right field, to give the visitors a two-run lead.
Oakland added two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings.
In the fifth, Sogard opened the inning with a base hit to center. Coco Crisp then pushed a bunt up the third base line. Alberto Callaspo's throw to first skipped into right field and Sogard came all the way around to score. Brandon Moss added an RBI single later in the inning to make it 4-0.
With two on an one out in the sixth, Josh Reddick stole third base. Angels catcher Chris Iannetta's throw sailed into left and Reddick was able to score easily. Crisp then plated Young after grounding into a fielder's choice to give Oakland a 6-0 lead.
Colon ran into some trouble in the ninth after giving up a pair of singles to J.B. Shuck and Mike Trout, but was able to retire the final two batter of the game to seal the win.
Game Notes
Colon threw a season-high 116 pitches ... Oakland went just 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position ... Colon has thrown 12 shutouts and 35 complete games over his 15-year career ... Iannetta went 2-for-3 ... Trout extended his hitting streak to 13 games.
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