Angels win afternoon affair on Richards' gem

Phinal in Philly: Anaheim 3, Philadelphia 0

Garrett Richards went 7 shutout innings to give the Angels a 3-0 win on the last game of their 6-game road trip.  Richards showed how he's leading the American league with a .186 batting average against heading into today's start by limiting Philadelphia to 5 hits on the afternoon, while striking out 8 and walking none.  The win improved the Halo right-hander to 4-0, and dropped his ERA to 2.42 on the season.

The Angels scored a run in each of the first three innings off of Phillie starter A.J. Burnett when Raul Ibanez drove in Albert Pujols in the first, Efren Navarro plated Hank Conger in the second, and Pujols scored again in the third on an Erick Aybar double.

Prior to today's start, Richards has allowed no more than two runs and five hits in each of his five road starts this season…Second pitcher in Angels history to do so (Jered Weaver-2006).  The only extra-base hit allowed was a sixth inning double to Phillie second baseman Chase Utley, but Richards ended the minor threat by striking out Ryan Howard and getting Marlon Bird to foul out.

Ernesto Frieri pitched a 1-2-3 eighth setting up Joe Smith for his 5th save of the season. The 5-1 road trip moved the Angels three games over .500 at 21-18.