ANAHEIM – Dallas Braden pitched seven masterful innings, Daric Barton homered, and the A's beat the American League West-leading Los Angeles Angels 2-1 Monday night.
Braden (4-3) allowed one run and seven hits and had no strikeouts or walks. The 25-year-old left-hander, who made his first nine appearances this season in relief before going to the Triple-A River Cats, is 3-3 in seven outings since going back into the rotation July 22.
Last year, he was 0-8 with a 7.91 ERA over his final 13 starts after beating Baltimore in his big league debut.
Brad Ziegler followed Joey Devine out of the bullpen and pitched a hitless ninth for his fifth save in five chances. The rookie right-hander has allowed only two runs in 45 innings.
Jered Weaver (10-10) allowed two runs and three hits and struck out eight in seven innings. One run against him came on his second wild pitch of the season.
The Angels' starting lineup was missing two of its primary offensive threats, Garret Anderson and Vladimir Guerrero. Anderson didn't start after being removed in the first inning Sunday against Minnesota because of a sore left knee, but he pinch-hit in the eighth and grounded out.
Guerrero was given the first of two days off by manager Mike Scioscia, who discussed it with his slugging right fielder a few weeks ago. The A's have an all-left-handed rotation, and Guerrero is batting 42 points lower against left-handers than right-handers.
