Tue Jul 1 01:20:16 2008

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Smith goes the distance as A's top Angels

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Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Greg Smith threw his second complete game of the year as the Oakland Athletics opened a three-game set against the LA Angels of Anaheim with a 6-1 win at Angel Stadium.

Smith (5-6) gave up just one run and four hits along with two walks and three strikeouts for the Athletics, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Eric Chavez drove in a pair of runs while Carlos Gonzalez went 3-for-5 with a run scored.

"I was mixing speeds and keeping them off-balance," said Smith. "I was able to throw quality strikes early in the count. I let them put it in play because we've got a good defense."

Mike Napoli drove in the lone run with a solo homer while Jon Garland (7-5) was tagged with the loss giving up four runs -- two earned -- on eight hits in six-plus innings for the Angels, who have dropped four of their last five.

"I had a pretty solid game," said Garland. "I gave us a chance to win and I felt really good, you just have to tip your hat to Greg [Smith]."

Oakland grabbed the lead in the second inning. Bobby Crosby led off with a double and moved to third on Gonzalez's infield single. Mark Ellis then grounded out and Crosby crossed the plate. Daric Barton later singled to score Gonzalez for a 2-0 lead.

The Angels had runners in each of the first three innings, but were unable to take advantage.

After getting retired in order in the fourth, Anaheim got a run in the fifth off the bat of Napoli, who lifted the ball over the left-center fence to make it a 2-1 game.

The A's gave themselves some insurance in the seventh. Ryan Sweeney beat out an infield single to start the frame. Kurt Suzuki then lofted a ball to deep center and Juan Rivera had it lined up right near the wall, but the ball popped out of his glove and the A's had men on second and third.

Darren Oliver then took the mound and got Jack Cust to ground out, but Chavez followed with a double to bring both men home for a 4-1 lead.

Oakland tacked on another run in the eighth inning as Barton laced a two-out single and Sweeney smacked a double to center to score Barton for a 5-1 lead.

After the home run in the fifth, Smith effectively silenced the Angels' bats as he gave up just a single in the sixth inning and the eighth.

The A's made it a 6-1 game in the ninth as Howie Kendrick's throwing error allowed Gonzalez to score.

Smith then retired the Angels in order in the ninth to finish the game.

Game Notes

Smith induced 19 fly outs in the game...The Angels have scored just two runs in their past four games...Oakland stranded 11 men on base...Each team has won four games in the season series thus far...Attendance was 42,046.