ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Less than 24 hours after using all seven of his relievers for the second time in four games to grind out a 14-inning victory — with starter Dan Haren as his last pitcher — Angels manager Mike Scioscia needed Jered Weaver to pitch deep into the game in his first home start of the season.
The ace right-hander more than obliged, striking out a career-high 15 over 7 2/3 innings Sunday in a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Weaver allowed a run and four hits while throwing 125 pitches.
"I just wanted to go out there, knowing that we had a long one last night, and I wanted to try to extend it as much as possible," Weaver said. "We were able to get three runs, and that was enough to work with.
"It's a tough lineup to face, but I had my fastball command early and my slider was as good as it's been in a long time. So I matched up pretty well with a bunch of righties in the lineup."
The Angels got some additional help from a costly error by Toronto center fielder Rajai Davis that led to a pair of unearned runs in the fourth. Peter Bourjos drove them in with a triple, helping Los Angeles take two of three in the series.
In the eighth, it came down to a showdown between Weaver and Jose Bautista, last year's major league home run leader. Bautista represented the go-ahead run at the plate after a pair of one-out walks, but Weaver struck him out with his final pitch of the day.
"I'm not going to lie. I was obviously getting a little tired," Weaver said. "I had too many walks again (four), but I was still able to extend myself as much as possible. Sosh let me do that. That 3-2 pitch to Bautista was a slider — and thank God he swung at it, or else it would have been bases loaded."
Hisanori Takahashi came in to retire cleanup hitter Adam Lind on a comebacker and Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.
Weaver became the first Angels pitcher with 15 strikeouts in a game since May 23, 1995, when left-hander Chuck Finley fanned 15 Yankees and pitched a two-hitter in a 10-0 win at the Big A.
"I'm not going out there trying to strike everybody out," Weaver said. "I'm just trying to get a first-pitch fastball over for a strike and trying to get ahead in the count and trying to keep my team in the game. And if it takes a couple of strikeouts here and there, then that's what it's going to take."
Red Sox 4, Yankees 0
In Boston, Josh Beckett allowed two hits in eight shutout innings.
Indians 6, Mariners 4
In Seattle, Asdrubal Cabrera welcomed Erik Bedard back to Safeco Field with a solo homer and the surprising Indians beat the Mariners for their seventh straight victory.
Ichiro Suzuki was 0-for-4 in the loss.
Rangers 3, Orioles 0
In Baltimore, Derek Holland allowed five hits over six innings, Adrian Beltre and Ian Kinsler homered, and Texas beat the Orioles to win its third consecutive series.
Royals 9, Tigers 5
In Detroit, Wilson Betemit went 4-for-4 with two doubles and Kansas City beat the mistake-prone Tigers.
White Sox 6, Rays 1
In Chicago, Paul Konerko hit two home runs and Gavin Floyd pitched eight masterful innings as the White Sox beat the slumping Rays.
Athletics 5, Twins 3
In Minneapolis, Hideki Matsui homered to help the Athletics break out of a season-long offensive slump.
Matsui finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Phillies 3, Braves 0
In Atlanta, Cole Hamels combined with two relievers on a five-hitter and Shane Victorino capped a big series with three hits, including his first homer, to lead the Phillies past Atlanta.
Cardinals 6, Giants 1
In San Francisco, David Freese went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs and Kyle Lohse allowed one run in eight innings to help St. Louis snap a three-game losing streak.
Diamondbacks 10, Reds 8
In Phoenix, Chris Young hit the decisive three-run homer and Stephen Drew had four hits and three RBIs.
Brewers 6, Cubs 5
In Milwaukee, pinch hitter Casey McGehee delivered a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning and the Brewers rallied to beat Chicago.
Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome finished 0-for-2 with a walk.
Rockies 6, Pirates 5
In Pittsburgh, Seth Smith drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh inning and Colorado kept up its strong start.
Astros 7, Marlins 1
In Houston, J.A. Happ pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning and drove in two runs with a double for the Astros.
Nationals 7, Mets 3 (11)
In New York, Ivan Rodriguez hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the 11th inning and Washington rallied late.
Padres 7, Dodgers 2
In San Diego, Aaron Harang pitched six sharp innings, and Ryan Ludwick broke out of a slump with a go-ahead homer and Nick Hundley added a two-run shot in the Padres' win.
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