ANAHEIM -- Piece by piece, the Angels stitched their pitching together.
The Angels used eight pitchers on Saturday night as they beat Oakland, 2-0, at Angel Stadium, opening a season-high four-game lead in the American League West and winning their fifth game in a row.
It was the first time in franchise history the Angels used eight pitchers in a nine-inning game.
 
Angels use 8 pitchers to beat A's 2-0, extend lead
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cory Rasmus -- in his first Major League start -- struck out six in three innings of one-hit ball and Michael Roth, Yoslan Herrera, Fernando Salas, Jason Grilli, Kevin Jepsen, Joe Smith and Huston Street yielded just two hits over the next six as Oakland was shut out for the second straight night.
The A's haven't scored a run in their last 20 innings.
The Angels scored two runs in the fourth, just after they escaped a huge jam in the top half of the frame.
Roth, who relieved Rasmus to open the frame, walked Stephen Vogt and gave up an infield single to Josh Donaldson on a dribbler down the third-base line. Catcher Hank Conger fielded the ball but his wild throw to first bounced into the stands, allowing the runners to advance to second and third.
Roth struck out Brandon Moss and intentionally walked Derek Norris before giving way to Herrera against pinch-hitter Jonny Gomes. On Herrera's fourth pitch, he induced a double-play ball to end the threat.
It was the only inning the A's had multiple baserunners.
Boosted by the magical escape in the top half of the inning, the Angels' offense gave its pitchers some breathing room with a pair of runs off Oakland starter Jeff Samardzija.
Albert Pujols singled and Howie Kendrick reached with one out on Eric Sogard's fielding error. Erick Aybar then ripped a base hit to right that scored Pujols while Sam Fuld's hesitation to get the ball back into the infield allowed the runners to each move up a base. Kendrick scored when Samardzija's 1-2 pitch went to the backstop.
Matthew DeFranks / MLB.com
 

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