OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Gio Gonzalez and three relievers combined on a five-hitter Friday and Oakland broke things open with a six-run seventh to down the Los Angeles Angels 8-0.
Kevin Kouzmanoff and Chad Pennington both had two-run homers in the big inning, helping the Athletics halt a four-game losing streak.
Gonzalez (13-8) gave up four hits over six innings while striking out six and walking three. He won his third straight start.
Michael Wuertz, Henry Rodriguez and Brad Ziegler worked an inning each to finish off the shutout.
Jack Cust drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning for the only run Oakland needed and Coco Crisp had an RBI single in the sixth.
Oakland wrapped up the victory by batting around in the seventh. Six of the first seven batters in the inning scored.
The loss went to Scott Kazmir (8-13), who threw 107 pitches over 5 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on just two hits with six walks.
