Angels rout Orioles 13-1 for 2-game sweep

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Los Angeles Angels aren't particular about how they rack up the runs. Sometimes they'll knock the ball out of the park, and often they will simply move around the bases one at a time.

The Angels did a little of both Wednesday night against the Baltimore Orioles , rolling to a 13-1 victory behind a 16-hit outburst that included 13 singles and a home run by Torii Hunter .

One night after reaching season highs in homers and hits, Los Angeles set a season mark for runs in its most lopsided victory of 2012. The Angels totaled 20 runs and 33 hits during a two-game sweep - their sixth straight series win.

"Look at how we've been hitting the ball over the last five or six days," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Not only are we hitting the ball for power and slugging percentage, but we have also been moving them around, running the bases better and driving in runs. Right now you're starting to see a team that is coming into its own and beginning to play at a high level."

Since starting 6-14, the Angels are 36-19. They've won 13 of their last 17 games overall and 13 of 14 on the road, outscoring the opposition by a combined 81-37.

"We're a different team than we were 45 days ago," Scioscia said.

Hunter scored four runs, Kendrys Morales had three hits and four RBIs, and Mike Trout had four hits and scored three runs. In addition, Alberto Callaspo had two hits in a six-run fourth that made it 9-1.

The 36-year-old Hunter is delighted to be part of an offense that includes the 20-year-old Trout and 26-year-old Mark Trumbo .

"I've had my glory. It's the young guys' time to shine," Hunter said. "They're up and coming. I get chills playing with these guys. It's awesome."

Jered Weaver (8-1) scattered six hits over 6 2-3 innings in his second start since spending three weeks on the disabled list with a lower back strain. He received ample offensive backing from the entire Los Angeles lineup.

"You still want to go out there and keep them off balance," said the right-hander, who gave up one run, walked one and struck out six.

Weaver lowered his ERA to 2.31 and became the seventh pitcher in club history to win 90 games. The two-time All-Star is 90-48 in six-plus seasons.

Orioles starter Jason Hammel (8-3) began the game with a streak of 19 straight innings without allowing an earned run, but he never made it to 20. The right-hander gave up eight runs and eight hits in 3 1-3 innings, his shortest outing of the season. His ERA ballooned from 2.61 to 3.29.

"Good-hitting ballclub, not necessarily power but just putting it in play," Hammel said of the Angels. "They're going to put the bat on the ball and put it in play somewhere, and that's what happened tonight."

Wilson Betemit had three hits for the Orioles, who have lost six of eight. Baltimore has scored only 12 runs during that slide. After going 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position, the Orioles are 2 for 47 in that situation over the last nine games.

Los Angeles set the tone in the first inning when Hunter hit a solo shot into the left-field seats, the first home run off Hammel in five starts since May 30.

In the bottom half, Trout made a sensational leaping catch at the center-field wall to rob J.J. Hardy of a homer.

"One of the best plays I have seen behind me," Weaver said. "Obviously very uplifting, and I played off of that. The offense did the rest."

Chris Davis followed with a two-out single to end an 0-for-29 drought and Adam Jones hit an RBI double, but that was the extent of Baltimore's attack.

Los Angeles went up 3-1 in the third. Hammel retired the first two batters, then gave up a single and two walks to load the bases for Morales, who grounded a two-run single up the middle.

The Angels' six-run fourth was their most prolific inning of the season. The uprising was fueled by two errors and featured RBI singles by Howie Kendrick , Trout, Hunter and Morales.

Los Angeles made it 11-1 in the fifth, scoring two runs on a two-out error by second baseman Brian Roberts . In the seventh, Peter Bourjos doubled in a run and scored on a single by Morales.

NOTES: Orioles DH Nick Johnson left the game with an injured right wrist. ... Angels first baseman Albert Pujols walked three times before being replaced in the sixth inning. ... The Orioles activated RHP Matt Lindstrom (finger) from the 15-day DL and optioned utility player Steve Tolleson to Triple-A Norfolk. ... The Angels continue their nine-game road trip Thursday night in Toronto, where they will play a four-game series. Baltimore will send Wei-Yin Chen to the mound Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series against Cleveland. ... Angels SS Erick Aybar had his 11-game hitting streak snapped. ... Morales increased his career average against Baltimore to .386 (27 for 70), the best against any AL club.

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