ANAHEIM — One night after six runs proved insufficient, five became more than enough for the A’s on Saturday night.
Paul Blackburn pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings in a 5-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels in front of 39,180 at Angel Stadium.
Blackburn (3-1), a former Heritage High star from Brentwood, generated 10 groundouts, issued no walks for the first time in his brief major-league career, conceded five hits and recorded one strikeout while throwing a season-high 112 pitches. The right-hander retired nine successive Angels between the third and sixth innings, and 15 of the final 18 he faced.