Murton, Gallagher stand out in Oakland debut as A's roll Angels

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Most of Sean Gallagher's belongings remain in boxes and the right-hander is trying to learn the names and faces of his new teammates. He still managed to make a good first impression Friday night.

Gallagher allowed two hits over seven innings in his Oakland debut and fellow newcomer Mike Murton drove in two runs to help the A's beat the Los Angeles Angels 9-2.

Both players were acquired by Oakland earlier in the week as part of the six-player trade that sent pitchers Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin to the Chicago Cubs.

"It's been a little crazy, a little hectic," Gallagher said. "I had to pack up all my stuff in Chicago and bring it all here. I'm just trying to get acclimated to this area ... but it's been fun."

Jack Hannahan homered and drove in three runs for the A's, who sent 11 batters to the plate in the third and seven in the fourth to break the game open after Los Angeles had taken a 2-1 lead.

Relying primarily on his fastball and a baffling curve, Gallagher -- who went 3-4 in 10 starts with the Cubs -- gave up two runs in the third but little else. He didn't allow a runner past first over his final four innings and retired 14 of the final 16 batters he faced.

Gallagher struck out seven, one shy of his career high, and walked three.

"I was able to bury my breaking ball when I needed to," Gallagher said. "My last couple of starts with the Cubs I left my breaking ball up a lot. That's why I got hurt in a lot of situations. You can't do that up here. You have to be able get it down in the dirt when you need to."

Jon Garland (8-6) lasted 2 2/3 innings and gave up 10 hits and seven runs in his shortest outing since going the same distance against Seattle on Aug. 19, 2007. Three of Garland's six losses are against the A's, who are 11-4 lifetime against the right-hander.

"He had some trouble putting guys away and getting back into counts," Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. "He just left some off-speed stuff that was up and he didn't get his feet on the ground and do some of the things he could do."

Andrew Brown and Dallas Braden both worked a scoreless inning for Oakland, which pulled within four games of AL West-leading Los Angeles. The teams play twice more before the All-Star break.

The nine runs were the most for the A's since they scored a season-high 15 to beat Arizona on June 17. Oakland had scored nine runs total in its previous three games.

"We just kept going," manager Bob Geren said. "Garland's a good pitcher, he's always pitched tough. A lot of times it's difficult to link something together like that but when your offense can do that it's pretty special."

It's the third time this season that Garland, who earned his 100th career win in his previous start, has given up seven earned runs.

"Everything was up," Garland said. "I got ahead of guys and didn't put them away. I fell behind and starting nitpicking. Just an overall bad game."

Murton, who was originally assigned to Triple-A Sacramento but never reported after being notified he was needed in Oakland, had only one hit in five at-bats but made it count with a two-run single off Garland. The left fielder also made two running catches near the wall.

Los Angeles entered with the best road record in the majors but fell to 3-6 in its last nine games away from home.

Chone Figgins accounted for all of the Angels' scoring when his triple drove in Erick Aybar in the third and he later scored on a sacrifice fly.

Hannahan had three hits in a game for the second time this season. Emil Brown also had three hits for the A's.

Game notes
After the game, the Angels announced Figgins would be leaving the team on Saturday and flying to Florida to be with his father, who suffered a stroke. ... Los Angeles RHP Kelvim Escobar will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Escobar, an 18-game winner last season, has not pitched for the Angels this year. ... Angels SS Maicer Izturis did not play due to a sore right hamstring. ... Oakland SS Bobby Crosby took batting practice before the game but remains on the DL with a strained left hamstring. ... A's DH Frank Thomas took 50 swings off soft tosses and is scheduled to take live batting practice when Oakland begins the second half of the season in New York on July 18. ... DH Jack Cust struck out for the 18th straight game, tying Reggie Jackson's Oakland record for non-pitchers.