Associated Press Sports
updated 1:03 a.m. ET June 21, 2012
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jered Weaver went back to work, Kendrys Morales and Mark Trumbo homered back-to-back, and the Los Angeles showed the San Francisco Giants that winning the deciding game of a series at the "Big A" is still as tough as it was in 2002.
Weaver pitched six innings of two-hit ball in his return from the disabled list, and the Angels handed Ryan Vogelsong his first loss in almost seven weeks with a 6-0 victory on Wednesday night. It was the Halos' eighth series win in their last nine tries.
"I was telling the guys before I went out there it was either going to be really good or really bad. So it was nice to go on the really good side of things," Weaver said. "You never know after taking that much time away. I've never been on the DL in the middle of the season, so I worked very hard to get back - and the training staff and coaching staff worked well with me to get back out there. It was nice to be able to come out of that one in one piece."
Weaver (7-1) threw 78 pitches in his first start since May 28 at Angel Stadium against the Yankees, when his back went out on him after just 12 pitches. He was working on a limited pitch count, so he knew there was no way manager Mike Scioscia was going to let him see the seventh inning.
"It was kind of weird, but I knew he was going to stick to that pitch count," said Weaver, who threw 121 pitches in his no-hitter against Minnesota on May 2. "Once I got up to that 80-pitch range, I figured he was going to shut it down after that sixth - especially after our guys got a couple of runs across in the fifth."
The right-hander, who finished runner-up in the AL Cy Young voting last season, struck out three and walked two while lowering his ERA to 2.40.
"My command was good," he said. "My off-speed stuff was struggling there in the beginning, but I got a feel for it later in the game. Just getting into this game was a key factor. Obviously, a simulated game can only get you so far. But once the lights come on, it's a totally different mentality."
San Francisco's only hits off Weaver were two-out singles by Brandon Crawford in the third inning and Brandon Belt in the fifth. The Giants had just two more hits - both singles - and were shut out for the third time.
"That was the first time I've faced him, and he's tough," Ryan Theriot said. "When a pitcher can basically just get everybody out with his fastball, that's always a pretty good thing. He was cutting it, sinking it, and adding and subtracting with his velocity. He keeps hitters off-balance with his unorthodox delivery, and it's tough to get a read on him. He's definitely one of those guys I would need to see quite a bit to feel confident in the box."
Alberto Callaspo homered against Vogelsong and former Angels prospect Shane Loux surrendered Morales' eighth homer and Trumbo's 17th, as the Halos took the rubber game of the interleague series - the first visit by the Giants to Anaheim since losing Game 7 of the 2002 World Series.
Vogelsong (6-3) gave up three runs and seven hits over seven innings, walked none and struck out six in his first regular-season start against the Angels. The right-hander, who came in with the lowest run support of any Giants starter at 3.70 per game, was 6-0 with a 1.76 ERA in his previous eight outings since May 3, when he lost a 3-2 decision to Miami's Anibal Sanchez at San Francisco.
"I felt like I threw the ball pretty good, but obviously not good enough," Vogelsong said. "If people are going to start taking me seriously, these are the games I need to win - against guys like Weaver and other teams' No.1 pitchers. So it's disappointing not to be able to beat him."
Callaspo opened the scoring in the second inning with a drive into the lower seats in the right field corner for his fourth home run, and the Angels increased the margin to 3-0 in the fifth.
Howie Kendrick, who had only two extra-base hits in his previous 35 games and 123 at-bats, hit the first of his two doubles with one out in the fifth and scored on Erick Aybar's single. Aybar continued to second on the throw home from left fielder Melky Cabrera, and rookie Mike Trout came through with an RBI single after a walk to No. 9 hitter Bobby Wilson.
NOTES: Angels RHP Jerome Williams, who was admitted to a hospital after his start on Monday night because of dizziness and shortness of breath from a suspected athsma attack, returned to the clubhouse Wednesday and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. ... Vogelsong was in the Angels' organization for less than four months in 2010. He signed a minor league contract with then that July, but did not appear in any games with the big club and was declared a minor league free agent. ... The Giants have decided not to put reliever George Kontos on the bereavement list, which would require him to miss at least three days. He will rejoin the club Friday night at Oakland for the opener of the season's second "Bay Bridge Series," after attending his grandfather's funeral. ... Ryan Theriot was thrown out trying to steal second by Wilson in the fourth, ending a streak of 15 straight successful attempts by Giants baserunners.
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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