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Weaver handcuffs White Sox

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jered Weaver pitched seven innings of four-hit ball in his first start since signing an $85 million contract extension, and Erick Aybar drove in 3 runs in the Los Angeles Angels’ sixth straight victory, 8-0 over the White Sox on Wednesday night.

Torii Hunter homered for the Angels, and Jeff Mathis had a 2-run double during a 3-run second inning in a dominant finale to their nine-game homestand. Los Angeles’ second straight series sweep and Texas’ 13-2 loss to Boston trimmed the Angels’ deficit in the AL West to just 2½ games before they head into a weekend series at Rangers Ballpark on Friday.

Zach Stewart (1-3) allowed 7 hits and 7 runs while pitching into the seventh inning for the Sox, who missed a chance to move into second place in the AL Central for the second straight day.

Los Angeles scored 4 runs in the seventh to give a rare easy night to Weaver (15-6), who received 1 total run of support in his previous 3 starts combined.

Alejandro De Aza’s third-inning double was the only extra-base hit for the White Sox, who haven’t been above third place since April. They also missed a chance Tuesday to move above .500 for just the second time in four months.

Until the game got away in the seventh inning, Stewart had made a solid return to the White Sox’s rotation after a stint in the bullpen. He made 2 starts immediately after arriving in a trade with Toronto on July 27, returning to the rotation after an injury to Philip Humber.