Nolasco, Norris lead Angels to 2-1 win over Athletics

ANAHEIM — Ricky Nolasco had extra days between starts to work on mechanical issues and it paid off as he led the Los Angeles Angels to a 2-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night to earn the series sweep.

Nolasco (2-2) threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run and three hits. The Angels (12-12) have won four consecutive games and are back to .500 as they head to Texas.

Bud Norris is settling into the closer’s role for Oakland. He pitched a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the season and second in as many nights.

In the sixth inning, Nolasco walked two batters and Yonder Alonso reached on an error to load the bases. Blake Parker relieved Nolasco and struck out Ryon Healy with the bases loaded to end the inning.

The Angels, who scored eight runs in the previous game’s win over the Athletics, scored two runs in the first inning. Mike Trout, who has an 11game hitting streak, hit a two-out double in the first, followed by a run-scoring single by Albert Pujols and an RBI double by C.J. Cron. Trout, the reigning AL MVP, has hit safely in 23 of 24 games this season.

Oakland starter Kendall Graveman (2-1), who came off the disabled list after missing one start with a minor shoulder strain allowed two runs in six innings and scattered six hits. He struck out four and walked none.

The Athletics scored once in the fourth inning on a single to right field by Alonso.

Nolasco, the Angels’ Opening Day starter, seemed to work out the kinks with mechanical adjustments in bullpen sessions. He pitched decisively and faced just three batters over the minimum through the first five innings.

“He threw a couple of bullpens,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said before the game. “One was just touch and feel to get the normal stiffness you might have after a start out. The other one was really a tutorial to find that release point. He’s ready. He feels good.”

Angels third baseman Yunel Esocbar hit a double in the eighth inning to snap an 0-for-22 skid.