Colon extends scoreless streak in A's 10-4 win

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Bartolo Colon enjoys playing baseball so much he's like a little kid when it's his turn to pitch.

"Most guys get a little surly and you can't talk to them on days they pitch," Athletics manager Bob Melvin said after watching Colon take a shutout into the seventh inning of Oakland's 10-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night. "Not Bartolo. He enjoys pitch days and his attitude has rubbed off on the younger pitchers."

Four players hit home runs in support of Colon, who extended his scoreless streak to a career-high 22 1-3 innings as the A's snapped a three-game losing streak and moved a half-game ahead of the Angels into second place in the AL West.

Jonny Gomes , Derek Norris , Adam Rosales and Josh Reddick hit home runs and accounted for eight RBIs for the A's. Jemile Weeks also drove in a run.

Colon (9-8) allowed four hits over seven innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out five.

"When I got back in here somebody told me I had a new record," Colon said. "I was more concerned with throwing strikes because it makes things a little easier."

Erick Aybar hit a two-run homer, Mike Trout hit a home run and Maicer Izturis drove in a run for the Angels, who lost for the fifth time in seven games.

C.J. Wilson (9-8) gave up six runs - three earned - and nine hits in five innings. He walked five and struck out four.

"It took C.J. a lot of work to get through the five innings," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "The miscue didn't help at third base but still, his ball-strike ratio and his ability to repeat pitches just wasn't consistent."

Trout became the fifth major leaguer to hit a home run on his 21st birthday, joining Ted Williams , Frank Robinson , Alex Rodriguez and Jason Heyward . He is the youngest ever to produce a 20-homer, 30-stolen base season.

"Right now it means nothing," Trout said. "That's the kind of stuff that pops up at the end of the season."

Gomes set the tone early, hitting his 12th home run, a solo shot with one out in the first.

"It just shows you the resiliency of this team," Gomes said. "Weaver has to be the leading candidate for the Cy Young Award and all you can do against him is try not to ruin your swing for the next game. Nine innings is plenty to not score runs and it was nice to pile some up."

The A's parlayed a fielding error by third baseman Alberto Callaspo into four runs - one earned - in the third. Norris, Rosales and Weeks all drove in runs.

Gomes added an RBI single in the fifth and back-to-back home runs by Norris, a two-run shot, and Rosales in the sixth made it 9-0.

Izturis singled home a run, unearned as a result of second baseman Weeks' throwing error, in the seventh to end Colon's scoreless streak.

Reddick added his team-high 25th home run in the seventh to make it 10-1.

"For whatever reason we seemed rejuvenated," Melvin said. "I thought we looked a little bit tired the past few games. That was a nice offensive effort against a guy who has been tough on us."

Notes: A's IF Cliff Pennington (left elbow tendinitis) was activated from the DL and RHP Pedro Figueroa was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. ... Angels OF Torii Hunter has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games. ... RHP Zack Greinke (0-1, 5.14) makes the start for the Angels on Wednesday. Greinke is 2-0 in seven games in Oakland. ... RHP Dan Straily (0-0, 1.50) makes the start, the second of his career, for the A's. ... Wilson had not allowed a home run in his first 17 appearances (four starts) in Oakland. ... The Angels' bullpen has allowed 27 runs in 24 1-3 innings through nine games of the road trip.

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