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Schoop's 2-Run HR Helps O's Beat Angels 4-2

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Miguel Gonzalez took a two-hit shutout into the eighth inning, Jonathan Schoop homered and J.J. Hardy hit two RBI doubles to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.

Gonzalez (5-5) allowed two runs and three hits in 7 2-3 innings, including a two-run homer in the eighth by All-Star game MVP Mike Trout after a walk to No. 9 hitter Hank Conger. The Angels' other hits against the right-hander were singles by Efren Navarro in the third and fifth innings.

Tommy Hunter retired Albert Pujols on a grounder for the final out of the eighth and Zach Britton pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save in 21 chances.

Gonzalez was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, where he was optioned on July 11 in order to keep him on his regular routine during the All-Star break. The Orioles did the same thing with Monday's starter, Bud Norris, who was optioned to Double-A Bowie on July 10 and beat the Angels 4-2 in his return to the rotation.

Angels left-hander Hector Santiago matched zeroes with Gonzalez through five innings, allowing just two hits before rookie Mike Morin (2-3) took over in the sixth. On his second pitch, Morin threw the ball into the dirt and to the backstop as his left knee appeared to buckle. Manager Mike Sciocsia went out with a trainer to check on him, and Morin made three warmup tosses before striking out Adam Jones and Nelson Cruz.

But Chris Davis reached on an infield hit and came all the way around on Hardy's double to right-center. Schoop homered to left-center two pitches later for his eighth homer — all on the road.

Schoop was originally in the No. 9 spot in manager Buck Showalter's lineup, but got bumped up to seventh after third baseman Manny Machado was scratched just before game time because of tightness in his lower back.

Hardy drove in Baltimore's final run in the eighth against Fernando Salas.

The Orioles maintained their four-game lead in the AL East over the Yankees and Blue Jays, following New York's 2-1 win against Texas and Toronto's 7-3 victory over Boston.

NOTES: With the victory, the Orioles ended the Angels' streak of 10 consecutive series won at home. … RHP Chris Tillman puts his 6-0 road record on the line against Jered Weaver in Wednesday night's series finale. … The Angels hadn't lost a series at the "Big A" since May 5-7, when the Yankees took two of three. … Hunter made his 200th major league appearance. The seven-year veteran, who was converted into a full-time reliever by the Orioles last season, lost his closer role to Britton in mid-May after consecutive blown saves. Since then, Hunter has yielded three runs and struck out 11 in 18 1-3 spanning 17 appearances — and has not allowed an earned run in a career-best 12 straight outings. Britton has allowed eight runs and fanned 27 in 29 1-3 innings over 29 appearances since taking over as closer. … The Orioles cleared a spot for Gonzalez on the 25-man roster by optioning RHP Preston Guilmet to Triple-A.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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