OAKLAND, Calif., June 7 (UPI) -- John Lackey held Oakland to four hits and a run over seven innings Friday, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-1 victory over the Athletics.
The Angels won their sixth straight and extended their first-place lead over the A's to 4 1/2 games in the American League West.
Lackey (2-1) struck out five and did not walk a batter before giving way to Jose Arredondo, who gave up a hit during a scoreless eighth.
Francisco Rodriguez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to record his 25th save.
Maicer Izturis hit a solo homer for the Angels in the first, Vladimir Guerrero singled in a run in the third and a base hit by Jeff Mathis accounted for another score in the seventh.
The A's only run came on Jack Cust's homer in the seventh.
Joe Blanton (3-8) absorbed the loss, allowing two runs on seven hits in seven innings.
Oakland had a four-game winning streak snapped.
