Hiljus Is Too Much for Angels

The Oakland Athletics’ pitching staff is envied by just about every other major league team because it features three of the best proven young starters in the game in Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson and Barry Zito.

In a 7-2 victory over the struggling Angels at Edison Field, No. 5 starter Erik Hiljus and the bullpen demonstrated Saturday night that the A’s go much deeper than the ultra-tough trio.

Hiljus gave up a double to Darin Erstad and a home run to Garret Anderson in the first inning, but otherwise pitched 52/3 strong innings and sent the Angels to their sixth consecutive loss before 33,554.

Frank Menechino had a three-run double in the second inning, Eric Chavez hit a two-run home run in the third and Scott Hatteberg hit a two-run homer in the ninth to power the A’s, who have won nine consecutive games against the Angels and 12 of the last 13 between the teams.

Angel left-hander Jarrod Washburn (0-2) struggled with his command again as the Angels dropped to 1-8 at this season Edison Field, their worst start at home in franchise history. At 3-9, they are off to their worst start after 12 games since 1961.

“Our pitching staff, with a little bit of support won’t have any prolonged [losing] streaks,” Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said. “What we’re getting now is no support. That makes it tough on these guys.”

Hiljus (1-1), a fourth-round draft pick by the New York Mets out of Canyon Country Canyon High in 1991, was making his second start of the season. He gave up five runs and seven hits in six innings of a 7-1 loss to the Mariners on April 5.

Hiljus, 29, gave up only two hits after the first inning. After Anderson’s homer, Hiljus retired 14 of the next 15 batters he faced. He walked two and struck out one in an 88-pitch performance.

Mike Venafro pitched two innings, Jim Mecir retired the only batter he faced and Chad Bradford pitched the final inning for the A’s.

Meanwhile, Washburn continued to come up empty in his bid for his first victory since last Aug. 19 when he pitched eight-plus innings in a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians at Cleveland. He has not won at home since last July 24 when he beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 9-6.

Washburn had thrown 100 pitches in 51/3 shutout innings last Monday against the Seattle Mariners, but did not figure in the decision in the Angels’ 5-4 defeat. On Saturday, he gave up five runs and five hits and threw 95 pitches in 42/3 innings.

“I haven’t hit a spot all season so far and my numbers show that,” said Washburn, who has given up 22 hits, 10 earned runs and six walks in 15 innings.

Washburn struck out Jeremy Giambi and got Menechino to hit a fly ball to left to start the game, but then walked Hatteberg and hit David Justice with a pitch before Chavez hit a fly ball to center field.

The Angels showed some spark in their first at-bat when Erstad hit a one-out double and Anderson broke an 0-for-20 slump with a blast into the seats beyond the right-field wall.

It was the Angels’ first homer at Edison Field this season.

Washburn, however, could not make the lead stand against an Oakland team that is showing plenty of pop despite the departure of Jason Giambi to the New York Yankees.

“The momentum was in our favor there for a minute,” Washburn said. “I did my best to kill it and it didn’t take long.”

Washburn got Miguel Tejada to hit a fly ball to left field to start the second inning, then gave up a single to Terrence Long and walked No. 8 hitter Ramon Hernandez before getting Carlos Pena to pop out to catcher Jorge Fabregas. Washburn walked Jeremy Giambi to load the bases, and Menechino worked the count to 3-and-2 before lacing a line drive into the left-field gap for a bases-clearing double.

Justice led off the Oakland third with a single to right and Chavez deposited a pitch from Washburn over the center-field wall for his fifth homer and a 5-2 lead.

The Angels threatened in the sixth inning when Anderson singled with one out and Scott Spiezio walked one out later.

Venafro, a left-hander, replaced Hiljus and Scioscia countered by sending Tim Salmon to the plate to pinch-hit for designated hitter Brad Fullmer, a left-handed batter.

Venafro fell behind in the count, 3-and-1, but got the struggling Salmon to swing and miss at two breaking pitches to end the inning.

The Angels threatened mildly again in the eighth when Venafro hit David Eckstein with a pitch to start the inning. But with fans waving T-shirts, Venafro struck out Erstad and got Anderson to hit a ground ball to first.

Mecir came on and got Troy Glaus to hit a hard ground ball to third base that Chavez gloved before throwing Glaus out at first.