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 Catcher Carlos Perez hit a home run in the sixth inning, and the
Angels earned a 1-0 win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday
night in front of 35,036 at Angel Stadium.
Weaver (5-9) pitched 6 1/3 shutout innings to earn his first victory
since May 30. The right-hander scattered five hits, permitted no
walks, collected five strikeouts, induced seven groundouts and
retired 18 of the final 21 batters he faced.
"When Weaver locates, he gets outs and goes deep into games," Angel
reliever Joe Smith said. "Everybody talks about velocity. Everybody
loves it. But if he locates his stuff, he makes guys look pretty
foolish. He's freezing guys on mid-80s fastballs inside."
In his three starts since being activated from the disabled list
Aug. 9, Weaver has yielded only four earned runs, 13 hits and two
walks in 17 1/3 innings while amassing 15 strikeouts.
"I still feel like I can gain some strength back and get the velo
up," Weaver said about his velocity. "But even if I stay where I'm
at, I'm totally comfortable out there. I can throw the ball the way
I want to, which is nice."
Right-handed relievers Trevor Gott and Smith contributed to the
shutout, with Smith pitching the ninth for his second save.
The Angels, who recorded their third successive victory, remain 2
1/2 games behind the first-place Houston Astros in the American
League West and a half-game in front of the Baltimore Orioles in the
race for the second AL wild-card playoff berth.
The White Sox lost for the fourth time in five games.
Perez put the Angels ahead when he propelled a 95 mph fastball from
right-hander Jeff Samardzija over the glove of left fielder Melky
Cabrera and into Chicago's bullpen. The home run was Perez's third
of the season and his first since May 30.
"I fall behind 2-0 and leave one out over the plate, and it gets
taken advantage of," Samardzija said. "That one will be in your head
for a while."
Samardzija (8-9) took his fourth consecutive loss. He had seven
strikeouts in seven innings and conceded just one run on eight hits
and two walks. Samardzija threw 116 pitches.
"Jeff pitched a great game," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.
"He battled out of some jams, was throwing strikes and was getting
ahead. For him, it's a good game. We just didn't score."
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The White Sox placed the potential tying run in scoring position in
the top of the ninth against Smith. Cabrera began the inning by
lining a single to right field, then took second base on designated
hitter Avisail Garcia's groundout before being replaced by pinch
runner Trayce Thompson. Right fielder J.B. Shuck walked, bringing
pinch hitter Adam LaRoche to the plate.
LaRoche hit a ground ball to Angels first baseman C.J. Cron, who
threw to shortstop Erick Aybar to retire Shuck at second base. First
base umpire Mike Estabrook ruled LaRoche safe on Aybar's return
throw to Smith at first base. However, Angels manager Mike Scioscia
appealed Estabrook's call, which video replay overturned to end the
game.
NOTES: Los Angeles 1B Albert Pujols, who hit three home runs in his
previous four games, did not play, as manager Mike Scioscia gave him
a rest. Before the recent power surge, Pujols hit no homers in 14
games and only one in 22. ... The Angels will recall RHP Nick
Tropeano from Triple-A Salt Lake to start Thursday against the White
Sox. In two starts for Los Angeles earlier this season, one in April
and one in July, Tropeano went 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA. LHP Jose
Quintana (6-10, 3.62 ERA) will start for Chicago in the series
finale. ... White Sox LHP Chris Sale, who has 208 strikeouts, is on
pace for a club-record 288. Hall of Famer Ed Walsh set the mark with
269 in 1908. ... The White Sox and Angels share second place in the
American League with 69 quality starts.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
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