Surkamp pitches better, but A's struggle against Weaver
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Erik Surkamp and Liam Hendriks gave the Athletics bullpen a well-deserved day off. On a day the Oakland offense was virtually non-existent, a couple of pitchers with ballooned-sized ERAs pitched like aces.
Jered Weaver bounced back from two rough starts to pitch a three-hitter, and the Los Angeles Angels held on to beat the Athletics 2-0 on Sunday.
Weaver (6-6) had given up 11 earned runs over his last 11 1/3 innings before helping the Angels to their fifth win in six games against the A's this season. The right-hander had only one strikeout but faced just two over the minimum on the way to his first shutout since May 8, 2015.
Surkamp (0-5) pitched a season-high six innings, giving up a pair of runs on six hits in his best effort of the year. He had allowed 20 runs in his previous 15 innings.
"I feel a lot better after this one," Surkamp said. "I just tried to go out, not think about anything and throw with conviction. I had to get out of my own way."
Weaver was stellar all afternoon and got plenty of help from his defense. Los Angeles turned a double play in the second after Yonder Alonso's one-out single, and center fielder Mike Trout threw out Billy Butler at second base in the fifth when the slugger tried to extend a single into a double.
"He throws a three-hit shutout, give him some credit," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "But I thought we had pretty poor at-bats. Our at-bats were consistently disappointing."
Henriks came off the disabled list and gave the A's two perfect innings, striking out a pair.
"Both of them did what was needed as far as giving the bullpen a break," Melvin said. "Hendricks had good command. I didn't expect any more than 30 pitches but he threw the ball over the plate."
The A's lost for the fifth time in six games and dropped to 2-5 on this nine-game homestand.
"Today was frustrating. Up and down the lineup, including myself, we didn't make him work," A' s catcher Stephen Vogt said. "He was very good; a guy like him every pitch looks hittable but that's not the case. We expanded it and kept getting ourselves out."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: OF Khris Davis was held out of the lineup with a mild calf strain. ... RHP Henderson Alvarez's rehab has been put on hold after he was pulled from his latest outing with soreness in his shoulder. Alvarez will meet with Dr. James Andrews this week for further evaluation. ... LHP Rich Hill (groin strain) threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session and will face hitters on Wednesday in a simulated game. ... OF Josh Reddick will begin a rehab stint in the minors and could rejoin the team when it hosts San Francisco on June 27. ... RHP Hendriks was reinstated from the disabled list. Andrew Triggs, who got a no decision in his first career start Saturday, was optioned to Triple-A Nashville.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray (3-6) starts against Milwaukee on Tuesday at the Coliseum following an off day Monday. The Oakland ace is winless since April 22.