Angels offense awakens in victory over A’s

Los Angeles Angels’ Danny Espinosa (3) is greeted by Mike Trout, center, Kole Calhoun, right, and manager Mike Scioscia, left, after he scored on a single by Cameron Maybin during the second inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: ANS110
ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 26: Matt Shoemaker #52 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 26, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker throws against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: ANS102
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sean Manaea throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: ANS105
Oakland Athletics’ Yonder Alonso watches a two-run single during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: ANS106
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout is at bat during the first inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
Oakland Athletics’ Yonder Alonso starts to head to first on a two-run single during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: ANS107
Los Angeles Angels’ Danny Espinosa follows through on an RBI double during the second inning of the team’s baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: ANS109
Oakland Athletics right fielder Matt Joyce misses a double hit by Los Angeles Angels’ Danny Espinosa during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: ANS108
Oakland Athletics right fielder Matt Joyce misses a double hit by Los Angeles Angels’ Danny Espinosa during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout is at bat during the first inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
Oakland Athletics center fielder Jaff Decker dives in an unsuccessful attempt to catch a double hit by Los Angeles Angels’ Martin Maldonado during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
Oakland Athletics center fielder Jaff Decker misses a double by Los Angeles Angels’ Martin Maldonado during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: ANS111
Oakland Athletics’ Trevor Plouffe tosses his bat after striking out during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, left, catches a fly ball hit by Oakland Athletics’ Ryon Healy, next to Kole Calhoun during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: ANS114
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, bottom, steals second base as Oakland Athletics shortstop fields the throw during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout smiles after stealing second base against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 26: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hits a RBI single in the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 26, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
Oakland Athletics’ Yonder Alonso, center, celebrates his home run with teammates during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: ANS116
Oakland Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt, left, runs for the ball which got by him, as Los Angeles Angels’ Danny Espinosa watches during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. Espinosa scored on the play. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: ANS118
ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 26: Danny Espinosa #3 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim returns to the dugout after scoring in the second inning against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 26, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Angels’ Cameron Maybin runs to first base after hitting a RBI single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
Los Angeles Angels’ Cameron Maybin, rear, is tagged out by Oakland Athletics’ Stephen Vogt at the home plate during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: ANS119
ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 26: Cameron Maybin #9 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim scores in the second inning against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 26, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
Oakland Athletics’ Matt Joyce, right, celebrates his two-run home run with Trevor Plouffe during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: ANS120
Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Bud Norris throws against the Oakland Athletics during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun, right, and Andrelton Simmons celebrate their team’s 8-5 win against the Oakland Athletics in a baseball game, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
Los Angeles Angels’ Kole Calhoun, right, and Cameron Maybin celebrate the team’s 8-5 win over the Oakland Athletics in a baseball game, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: ANS121
Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout kneels next to the batting cage before the team’s baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
A young baseball fan runs through the empty seats toward the outfield as Los Angeles Angels players take batting practice before the team’s baseball game with the Oakland Athletics, Wednesday, April 26, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) ORG XMIT: ANS101

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ANAHEIM — The 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 games, 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 of them. Maybin had hits to center, to left and to right, the first and last coming with two outs and runners in scoring position. His first hit tied the score, 2-2, and the last one drove in two runs to turn a one-run lead into a three-run lead in the seventh.

“Obviously, I think he’s more comfortable in the box right now,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Spring training it took a while to get going, but the way he swung the bat tonight is what we saw most of last year, if you look at video. He was hitting the ball all over.”

Maybin had almost a look of relief as he described his best offensive day so far with the Angels. This is a player who began his Angels career with an 0 for 20 in spring training.

“It’s been a lot of hard work since the spring,” Maybin said. “Just continuing to keep the faith, believing in my approach. If you come in every day and do things right, eventually good things will happen.”

He wasn’t the only Angels player whose Wednesday night came as a relief. Kole Calhoun, who had hit .122 over his previous 11 games, followed up Tuesday night’s walk-off single with three more 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. 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.

Scioscia still called on Bud Norris — seemingly 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 he 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 in 11 2/3 and opponents have hit .154.

“One thing with Matt is as his outings have gone on, he’s gotten progressively better,” Scioscia said before the game. “Hopefully we’ll see him get into his game earlier and do some of the things we saw him do during that stretch last year. He has it in him.”

Angels offense awakens in victory over A’s

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