Angels stay strong against Blue Jays in 5-4 victory

TORONTO — There are plenty of things that haven’t gone right for the Angels this season. One that has is starter C.J. Wilson.

Kole Calhoun hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, Wilson won his eighth consecutive decision and the Angels beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-4, Wednesday night.

Wilson (16-6) gave up four runs, three earned, in seven innings to match his career high in victories, first set with Texas in 2011.

BOX SCORE: Angels 5, Blue Jays 4

“Of all the things we’ve talked about this year that haven’t worked out, C.J. is on the other side of that ledger,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s having just a terrific season, pitching deep into games. He’s going to be 200-plus innings again. Every stat you look at is terrific for him.”

The left-hander, who has not lost since July 5 against Boston, walked four and struck out six. He is 12-1 with a 3.02 earned-run average in 17 starts since June 14.

Wilson said he can be even better and that he’s still working to refine things between starts.

“I’m still not happy with how I’m pitching, he said. “Today I won, but it wasn’t a great stat line for me with the walks and stuff.”

Blue Jays Manager John Gibbons said Wilson “can carve you up.”

“He’s got that nice cutter that he runs inside to right-handers and it really kind of neutralizes you,” Gibbons said.

Mark Trumbo hit a two-run home run, his career-high 33rd, and Josh Hamilton had three hits as the Angels won for the ninth time in 12 games with the Blue Jays.

Mike Trout started the winning rally by drawing a one-out walk against Steve Delabar (5-3) and going to third base on Hamilton’s double. Trumbo was intentionally walked to load the bases for Calhoun, who hit a sacrifice fly to left field.

“I’m playing free and starting to get into a good rhythm,” Calhoun said. “It makes it a lot easier getting out there every single day.”

Calhoun was one for two with two sacrifice flies, helping the Angels win for the fifth time in seven games.

“He’s one of those guys where the sum is greater than the parts,” Wilson said of Calhoun.

Calhoun has driven in at least one run in 14 of his last 15 starts.

“He’s really shortened his swing and you see he has the strength to still drive the ball,” Scioscia said. “He’s just having great at-bats.”

Ernesto Frieri finished for his 32nd save in 36 chances.

Moises Sierra was three for four with two doubles and a triple, but it wasn’t enough for the Blue Jays.

Toronto took a 3-0 lead with a two-out rally in the first inning. Sierra doubled home Rajai Davis and Adam Lind, who had both walked, and scored when shortstop Erick Aybar overthrew first base on Mark DeRosa’s infield single.

The Angels answered with two runs in the second inning against R.A. Dickey. Hamilton drew a leadoff walk and Trumbo followed with second-deck blast to center field, his sixth consecutive hit. Trumbo was five for five in the Angels’ 12-6 victory Tuesday.

Trumbo’s home run was the 31st against Dickey this season. Only Oakland’s A.J. Griffin (33) has given up more.

The Angels tied it on Calhoun’s first sacrifice fly, in the fourth inning, with Trout scoring his 100th run. Trout is the third Angels player to record consecutive 100-run seasons and only the seventh player in big league history to do it at ages 20 and 21. The last was Alex Rodriguez in 1996 and 1997.

Toronto reclaimed the lead in the bottom half when Sierra led off with a triple and scored on an error by third baseman Andrew Romine, who couldn’t handle Aybar’s relay throw.

The Angels tied it in the fifth inning. Grant Green hit a leadoff double and scored two batters later on Aybar’s sacrifice fly.

Dickey had pitched at least six innings in his previous 15 starts but failed to extend the streak. The knuckleballer gave up four runs and seven hits in 51/3 innings, walked two and struck out two.

“I thought he looked really sharp that first inning,” Gibbons said. “Then it was kind of hit or miss.”