Angels beat A's with 3-run HRs by Giavotella, Calhoun

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) The Los Angeles Angels had a pretty easy time against Oakland pitching - until they faced first baseman Ike Davis.

Johnny Giavotella hit a three-run homer, his first for the Angels after the second inning was extended by a replay review, and the defending AL West champions routed the Athletics 14-1 Tuesday night to end a three-game skid.

Giavotella had a career-high four RBIs and Kole Calhoun tied a career-best with four hits, including a three-run homer. Giavotella was acquired in a trade from Kansas City in December and won the second base job in spring training after Howie Kendrick was dealt to the Dodgers.

''It feels great helping this team win,'' said Giavotella, who also had an RBI single. ''From day one in spring training, this team has welcomed me with open arms. They believe in me, and it's great to have guys that rally around you and root for you on the bench.''

Davis, the son of former Yankees pitcher Ron Davis, retired Collin Cowgill, C.J. Cron and Chris Iannetta with groundballs and threw only nine pitches. Instead of warming up in the bullpen, the left-hander did it in the indoor batting cage after volunteering to manager Bob Melvin.

''It was interesting for sure,'' said Davis, who had a 2.25 ERA at Arizona State. ''I'm just glad I threw strikes and didn't have to throw too many pitches. I miss that part of the game, and I've always wanted to get back up there and see what I could do and if I could get outs. I was a little nervous. I didn't want to walk the house and look like a clown out there.''

It was the first time the A's had a position player pitch since Frank Menechino on July 18, 2000, against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

''You never like facing a guy like that because it's a lose-lose situation,'' Cron said. ''I got a good pitch to hit, but I hit it right into the ground. He got three outs, so he did his job. He pitched in college, so he knows what he's doing.''

Hector Santiago (2-1) allowed a run and three hits in six innings and struck out eight.

Drew Pomeranz (1-2) gave up five runs - four earned - and eight hits in five-plus innings and fanned six.

The left-hander thought he was out of the second inning unscathed, after third baseman Brett Lawrie charged Cron's slow bouncer up the line and got the force at second on Erick Aybar before Eric Sogard relayed to first. Cron was called out by umpire Mike Muchlinski, but Angels manager Mike Scioscia asked the crew to take a second look and Cron was declared safe.

''I felt like (Muchlinski) took a little bit of time, and then I saw him call me out - but I knew I was safe for sure,'' Cron said. ''Then we got something going there.''

Pomeranz ended up making 25 extra pitches that inning and gave up four runs before getting the third out. Giavotella homered on a full count.

''One of the things we do well is see a lot of pitches. We battle and don't give in with two strikes,'' Giavotella said.

Calhoun then singled, Mike Trout walked on four pitches, and Calhoun scored the fourth run when shortstop Marcus Semien misplayed Albert Pujols' grounder for his fifth error in 15 games.

Billy Butler got the A's on the board in the third with a two-out homer, their last hit until Mark Canta's one-out infield single in the eighth.

But Pomeranz was charged with another run after Cron chased him with a leadoff double during a six-run sixth that included three errors by the A's, two wild pitches by R.J. Alvarez, and increased the Angels' lead to 10-1.

''We obviously didn't play a clean game,'' Melvin said. ''We've been on the other side of blowouts this year, and it doesn't feel that great when you're on the side we were tonight. It was just a bad game all the way around. At least we got a little levity at the end there with Ike.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Athletics: 2B-OF Ben Zobrist missed his second straight game because of an injured left knee.

Angels: Scioscia said OF Josh Hamilton (shoulder) is close to beginning an extended spring program in Arizona.

UP NEXT

Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray (1-0) faced the Angels in three of his final eight starts last season, going at least seven innings each time. He is coming off a no-decision at Kansas City in which he gave up four runs and 11 hits over six innings.

Angels: RHP Jered Weaver (0-2) had a 6.61 ERA in his first three outings. The 10-year veteran and me All-Star, who won 18 games last year, has never gone winless in his first four starts of a major league season.