Heaney gives a strong effort

CHICAGO — Andrew Heaney began the season on the disabled list because of an elbow injury. Now, the 27year-old left-hander is on the verge of finishing with a slew of career bests.

Heaney (9-9) gave up three hits over seven innings and struck out a career-high 12 batters, lifting the Angels over the Chicago White Sox 1-0 on Sunday.

Kole Calhoun drove in the run with a seventh-inning single, and Mike Trout was two for four and was eight for 11 with two home runs and five runs batted in to help the Angels sweep the three-game series.

Heaney is 2-1 with a 1.89 earned-run average and 23 strikeouts in his last three starts. He has set career highs in victories, starts (27), innings (165) and strikeouts (161).

“As we continue to see him get his stamina as this year’s progressed, he’s finished strong and might have some more left in him,” manager Mike Scioscia said of Heaney.

After giving up a hit to Tim Anderson leading off the first inning, Heaney retired 11 batters in a row. The streak ended when Matt Davidson struck out swinging leading off the fifth inning but reached first base as the ball got by catcher Jose Briceno for a wild pitch. Only one runner reached second base against Heaney.

“I was throwing some backdoor breaking balls better than I normally do, so I kind of leaned on that more and then threw the changeup after that,” Heaney said. “I was able to put some guys away with heaters late.”

Reynaldo Lopez gave up two hits, struck out 10 batters and walked three before being lifted after six innings and 105 pitches. The Angels took advantage of Lopez’s departure.

Jose Fernandez led off the seventh inning with a single against Ian Hamilton (0-1) and advanced on a groundout. With two outs, Caleb Frare was summoned to face Calhoun, who singled to right field to drive in Fernandez.

The White Sox threatened in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Yolmer Sanchez led off with a single against Blake Parker and moved to second base on a wild pitch with one out. Parker hit Davidson and a flyout put runners at the corners.

Jose Alvarez replaced Parker and struck out pinch-hitter Nicky Delmonico for the final out.

Justin Upton struck out in his four at-bats but made a sliding catch in left field to end the eighth inning and keep the tying run from scoring.

“When the ball was hit off the bat, we thought it was a base hit,” Scioscia said.