[June 09, 2014]ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Back from a stint
on the disabled list, left fielder Josh Hamilton is punishing opposing
pitchers again.
Hamilton drove in three runs, tying a season high, to lead the
Los Angeles Angels to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on
Sunday at Angel Stadium. The Angels completed a three-game series
sweep.
Before going on the DL due to a torn thumb ligament, Hamilton was
hitting .444 with a .545 on-base percentage and a .741 slugging
percentage. Since being activated Tuesday, Hamilton has eight hits,
including two doubles and a home run, and five RBIs in 23 at-bats.
"He's doing everything right," Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson said.
"He's getting hits off lefties. He's getting hits to the opposite
field. He's drawing walks."
Wilson (7-5) conceded only one walk and one hit while blanking
Chicago for the first six innings. In 7 1/3 innings overall, Wilson
permitted three hits, two walks and one run. He struck out six and
induced 12 grounders that resulted in outs, two of them becoming
double plays.
"He always throws that pitch that doesn't look appetizing, but it's
still a strike," White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton said. "He works
both sides of the plate, and I think that's something that's fallen
behind in today's world. Everybody sits on the outside of the
plate."
Wilson earned the victory despite recovering from the flu. In his
previous start, Wilson allowed five runs, five walks and six hits in
2 2/3 innings of a 7-2 loss to the Houston Astros on Tuesday.
"I'm still working my way back," Wilson said. "Getting the
groundball outs was what saved me, for sure. I made the most of what
I had."
Hamilton played the key role as the Angels built a 4-0 lead. In the
bottom of the third inning, Hamilton lined a double into right field
off left-hander Jose Quintana to score center fielder Mike Trout.
Chicago right fielder Moises Sierra had trouble tracking the ball in
the bright sun.
"Q was making great pitches on him," Eaton said in reference to
Quintana. "The high heater that (Hamilton) hit to right, you don't
hit those pitches that often, especially when (Quintana is) throwing
sliders away. (Hamilton) hits the ball so well; it has top spin and
it's tough for Sierra to judge.
With the bases loaded in the fifth, Hamilton hit a ground ball under
second baseman Gordon Beckham's glove for a single that brought home
second baseman Howie Kendrick and Trout. Angels third baseman David
Freese went to third on Hamilton's single and scored on first
baseman C.J. Cron's single.
The White Sox broke the shutout with two runs in the top of the
eighth. Pinch hitter Conor Gillaspie hit an infield single that
scored pinch runner Adrian Nieto, and Eaton singled to knock in
pinch hitter Alejandro De Aza.
Chicago put the potential tying runs on base in the ninth against
right-handed closer Ernesto Frieri. Right fielder Dayan Viciedo hit
a double with one out, and after Frieri struck out shortstop Alexei
Ramirez, pinch hitter Adam Dunn received an intentional walk. Frieri
earned his 10th save by striking out Nieto, who replaced Tyler
Flowers behind the plate.
Quintana (3-6) allowed four runs on seven hits and four walks in 4
1/3 innings while striking out four.
NOTES: Chicago 1B Paul Konerko made his first start since June 1. He
went 0-for-2 with a walk. ... White Sox DH Jose Abreu has hit safely
in 12 of his past 16 games before going 0-for-4 Sunday. ... Chicago
OF Dayan Viciedo, who began the game in an 0-for-22 slump, went
2-for-4. ... Los Angeles SS Erick Aybar, who finished 1-for-4, is
hitting .338 (23-for-68) with 15 RBIs in his past 17 games. ...
Angels RF Collin Cowgill has five RBIs in his past seven games,
though he didn't drive in any runs while going 1-for-4 Sunday.
