Red-Hot Angels Pull Into First Place After Doubling Up Rival A’s

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Bobby Abreu blasted a two-run homer in the opening inning and Scott Kazmir continued his success in Oakland as the Angels took down the Athletics, 4-2, for their sixth straight win.

Kazmir (5-5) allowed five hits, one run, walked two and had five strikeouts. The lefty moved to 9-3 lifetime against the A's. He came into Monday having thrown 13 consecutive scoreless innings in Oakland and stretched that an additional 6 1/3 frames before giving up a homer to Jake Fox.

Erick Aybar and Howie Kendrick also drove in a run for Los Angeles in the opener of the four-game series. The Angels have won nine of their last 10 contests.

Ben Sheets (2-5) saw his winless streak stretch to six games as the righty yielded six hits and four runs -- three earned -- over six innings.

Kendrick reached base on a throwing error from third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff with one out in the first inning. Abreu then belted a 2-0 pitch over the wall in right field.

Kazmir struck out three batters in the first inning and received more run support in the fifth. Bobby Wilson and Aybar hit back-to-back two-out doubles, and Kendrick followed with an RBI hit.

Rajai Davis tripled with two outs in the bottom of the inning, but was left at third when Kurt Suzuki flied out.

Fox homered to left-center with one out in the seventh and Kevin Jepsen came in to put out the fire later in the inning. With a runner at second and one out, Daric Barton flied out and then Suzuki popped out.

Ryan Sweeney doubled to left to drive in Kouzmanoff in the eighth, but Fernando Rodney retired the next two hitters.

Brian Fuentes had a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his eighth save.