Kazmir, Clippard hang on to lead A’s over Angels

OAKLAND, Calif. — Scott Kazmir pitched into the eighth inning and the Oakland Athletics withstood another home run by Albert Pujols to beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 Sunday.

Pujols hit his AL-leading 21st homer of the season, and tied Tim Salmon’s team record with 13 home runs in June.

Kazmir (4-4) took a shutout into the eighth and left with one out. Pujols hit a two-run homer off closer Tyler Clippard.

David Freese followed with a bloop single, but Clippard went on to finish for his 12th save in 14 tries.

Pinch-hitter Matt Joyce reached on a one-out error in the ninth, but Clippard struck out Efren Navarro and retired Johnny Giavotella on a fly to deep left to end it.

Garrett Richards (7-5) gave up three runs in six innings.

The A’s won the final two games of the series between the two teams after losing five of six to their division rivals.

A’s third baseman Brett Lawrie, who made a catch while falling into the Oakland bullpen on Friday night, turned in another nifty defensive play when he stumbled over the mound in foul territory to catch Carlos Perez’s pop fly.

Sam Fuld doubled with one out in the A’s third and scored on Billy Burns’ single. Burns extended his hitting streak to 12 games, matching his career high.

Lawrie and Ike Davis added RBI singles in the sixth to put the A’s up 3-0.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: Pitcher Jered Weaver was placed on the 15-day disabled list and will undergo an MRI on his left hip Monday. He has lost his last four starts. … OF Alfredo Marte was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake City to take Weaver’s roster spot.

UP NEXT

Angels: LHP Hector Santiago (4-4), who pitches Monday in Anaheim against the Houston Astros, is winless in his previous three starts.

Athletics: RHP Jesse Chavez (3-6) starts Monday in Texas. He struck out a career-high 11 in his most recent start against San Diego.

from Sportsnet.ca http://ift.tt/1SBuxhR