Jaso Helps A's Get Past Angels In Cactus League
PHOENIX (CBS / AP) -- John Jaso was brought to Oakland as a backup. He showed what he could do as a starter.
Jaso had a bases-loaded triple, Brandon Moss had two hits and an RBI, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Los Angeles Angels 13-5 on Monday.
"He's always had good numbers but it's still good to see him hit like that," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "He got that triple off a left-hander and he's had good at-bats this year."
Jaso, a four-year veteran, was obtained in a three-way trade from the Seattle Mariners to backup catcher Derek Norris.
Vernon Wells hit a three-run home run, extending his hitting streak to five games, and reigning AL Rookie of the Year Mike Trout had three hits for the Angels, who lost their third straight. Howie Kendrick and Scott Cousins also drove in runs.
Josh Reddick, Jed Lowrie and Moss each drove in runs in the fifth to put Oakland ahead to stay.
Angels starter Jason Vargas went two scoreless innings, walking one and striking out one in his first outing of the spring.
"I felt pretty dialed in," Vargas said. "I mainly threw fastballs and tried to pound the strike zone. I threw a couple of decent change-ups but that's not something I'm worried about. It's been there for a while."
A's starter Dan Straily allowed two runs on four hits over 2 1-3 innings. He struck out two.
"The inside fastball to right-handers was what Curt (Young) and I talked about before the game," Straily said. "That was something I got better doing. It wasn't the greatest outing but I'm still working on stuff to get better."
Melvin didn't seem worried.
"He pitched well," Melvin said. "He's working on things and gave up a couple of runs."
The A's scored six runs in the eighth, all charged to Chad Cordero, on five hits. Jefry Marte's two-run double was the big blow.
Outfielder Shane Peterson, the only A's player to appear in all 10 games, went 1 for 2 and is hitting .435.
"He's playing center field at the end of games when the sun is not your friend," Melvin said. "He's played first a lot and he's playing like a natural center fielder. He seems to get two good at bats every day. He's making as big an impression as anybody."
NOTES: A's RHP Grant Balfour threw 35 pitches in a bullpen session and could make his spring debut in a few days. ... Italy gets no breaks in its two exhibition games this week. LHP Brett Anderson goes for an A's split-squad against them Tuesday and the Angels send RHP Jered Weaver against the Italians on Wednesday. ... RHP Bartolo Colon goes Tuesday for the A's at the Kansas City Royals. ... RHP Tommy Hanson goes for the Angels against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. ... Wells hit his second home run and has 11 RBIs. ... Trout entered the game with two hits in his first nine at bats. ... A's OF Michael Choice went hitless for the second time in nine games. ... Lowrie appeared at shortstop for the third time. He's also played third and second. ... A's LHPs Jerry Blevins and Sean Doolittle each pitched a scoreless inning.
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