ANAHEIM, Calif. _ The Los Angeles Angels were due to eventually have a night like this.
After spending much of the season's early going scraping for runs or needing to make valiant late comebacks to win a game, the Angels finally took an early lead, expanded it later and won without too much stress.
Their 8-5 victory over the Oakland A's on Wednesday night stretched their winning streak to three games and brought them within a game of .500, at 11-12.
Unlike their previous two victories _ each coming by 2-1 scores _ this one was marked by hits from all over the lineup.
Cameron Maybin, who brought a .193 average into the game, had three hits, including a key two-run single in the seventh to turn a one-run lead into a three-run lead.
Kole Calhoun, who just last week snapped an 0-for-20 slump and hadn't had a multi-hit game since April 12, busted out for three hits.
Jefry Marte, who had been in a 1-for-26 slump and was hitting .132 for the season, had a pair of hits.
And Albert Pujols continued a hot streak that has gradually brought his average up to a more respectable range. Pujols was hitting .177 when this homestand began on Friday, but he's now 11 for 27 (.407) in the last six games. Pujols drove in his team-leading 17th run of the season.
All told, the Angels had 14 hits, their most of the season. The eight runs was their second-highest total. When they scored four runs in the seventh inning, it gave them a five-run lead for the first time since April 4, the third game of the season.
With the added cushion, the Angels hoped they could rest some of their more oft-used relievers, specifically Jose Alvarez and Blake Parker. Deolis Guerra took the ball in the eighth and gave up a two-run homer to Matt Joyce, which cut the margin to three.
Manager Mike Scioscia still called on Bud Norris _ apparently his temporary closer _ to work the ninth. Norris finished it for his third save in three tries. He preserved the victory for Matt Shoemaker on a night that the starting pitcher followed what has become his pattern this season.
Shoemaker had a rough start before settling down. He gave up two runs in the first, but nothing else through five innings.
He's now allowed 10 runs in 15 innings covering the first three innings of his five starts, and opponents have hit .300 against him in those innings. After that, he's settled down and fared much better. He has allowed just four runs in 11 2/3 innings and opponents have hit .154.
