GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: MINNESOTA (58-58) at LA ANGELS (68-47)

Weaver follows brother Jeff's shutout as Angels sweep Twins

<h3>LA ANGELS 6, MINNESOTA 2</h3>ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- With a little help from histable-setters, Jered Weaver helped the Los Angeles Angels ofAnaheim to a three-game sweep over the Minnesota Twins.

Weaver pitched into the eighth inning, and Chone Figgins andOrlando Cabrera combined for five hits, two runs and three RBIout of the top two spots in the batting order as the Angelstopped the Twins, 6-2, on a hot, sunny Sunday afternoon.

No. 9 hitter Reggie Willits walked, singled and scored two runsfor the Angels, who remained 3 1/2 games ahead of the SeattleMariners in the American League West. The Mariners blanked theChicago White Sox earlier Sunday on a five-hit shutout by JeffWeaver, Jered's older brother.


After the Angels scored a run against struggling Minnesotarighthander Boof Bonser (5-9) in the second inning, thetable-setters took over.


Willits delivered a one-out single to right-center in the fifthand Figgins followed with a base hit to center. Cabrera thendoubled inside the third base line, scoring Willits for a 2-0lead. After an intentional walk to Vladimir Guerrero, GarretAnderson plated another run with a groundout.


Two frames later, Willits singled and stole second beforeFiggins lifted a two-run homer into the first row of seats downthe right field line. That ended the day for Bonser, whoyielded five runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings to drop to 0-7in his last 11 starts.


After yielding six runs in each of his previous two starts,Weaver (8-5) righted the ship last Monday, yielding two runs andsix hits in six frames in a no-decision against the Boston RedSox.


Weaver built on that performance against the Twins, yieldingjust two runs and five hits in 7 1/3 innings. He struck outfive and did not walk a batter during his 93-pitch outing.

Minnesota scored on a sacrifice fly by Jason Bartlett in thesixth. That scored rookie Alexi Casilla, who singled and stolesecond and third base.


Weaver's day ended after a one-out single by Casilla in theeighth and the Twins cut their deficit to 5-2 with a run-scoringtriple by Bartlett off Justin Speier.


Los Angeles added insurance in the bottom half on Jeff Mathis'first homer of the season against Ramon Ortiz before Speiercompleted his first save.

 

Weaver follows brother Jeff's shutout as Angels sweep Twins

<h3>LA ANGELS 6, MINNESOTA 2</h3>ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Jered Weaver capped off a goodday for the Weavers.


Weaver pitched into the eighth inning and the table-settersprovided most of the offense as the Los Angeles Angels ofAnaheim completed a three-game sweep with Sunday's 6-2 triumphover the Minnesota Twins.


Chone Figgins and Orlando Cabrera combined for five hits, tworuns and three RBI out of the top two spots in the batting orderand No. 9 hitter Reggie Willits walked, singled and scored tworuns for the Angels, who remained 3 1/2 games ahead of theSeattle Mariners in the American League West.


"We did a lot of things well, the situational hitting has beenhuge and we need to carry it into Toronto," Angels manager MikeScioscia said.


The Mariners blanked the Chicago White Sox earlier Sunday on afive-hit shutout by Jeff Weaver, Jered's older brother.

"I was peeking at the scoreboard to see how he was doing," Jeredsaid. "It kept me focused to see he got the shutout. I matchedhim with a win.


"It was a good day for the Weavers."


After the Angels scored a run against struggling Minnesotarighthander Boof Bonser (5-9)in the second inning, the table-setters took over. Willitsdelivered a one-out single to right-center in the fifth andFiggins followed with a base hit to center.


Cabrera then doubled inside the third base line, scoring Willitsfor a 2-0 lead. After an intentional walk to Vladimir Guerrero,Garret Anderson plated another run with a groundout.

"We have to be more than (Guerrero), today we got a lot ofcontributors from alot of different guys, (Figgins) had some bighits, its good to have a share of the lineup." Scioscia said.

Two frames later, Willits singled and stole second beforeFiggins lifted a two-run homer into the first row of seats downthe right field line. That ended the day for Bonser, whoyielded five runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings to drop to 0-7in his last 11 starts.


"(Bonser) kept the ball out of the hitting zone, they have agreat staff, to score runs like we did against them this seriesis great," Figgins said.


After yielding six runs in each of his previous two starts,Weaver (8-5) righted the ship last Monday, yielding two runs andsix hits in six frames in a no-decision against the Boston RedSox.


Weaver built on that performance against the Twins, yieldingjust two runs and five hits in 7 1/3 innings. He struck outfive and did not walk a batter during his 93-pitch outing.

"I was able to keep them off-balance and stay ahead, the defensewas great behind me," Weaver said. "I got guys out early in thecount, which was something I wanted to do, I'm not going to beable to strikeout guys like I did in college."


Minnesota scored on a sacrifice fly by Jason Bartlett in thesixth. That scored rookie Alexi Casilla, who singled and stolesecond and third base.


Weaver's day ended after a one-out single by Casilla in theeighth and the Twins cut their deficit to 5-2 with a run-scoringtriple by Bartlett off Justin Speier.


"I wanted to stretch it out, but we dont want my pitch count tohigh on a hot day like this. I just want to put zeros on theboard and leave the game to Speier, Shields, and (Rodriguez),"Weaver said.


Los Angeles added insurance in the bottom half on Jeff Mathis'first homer of the season against Ramon Ortiz before Speierclosed out the victory.