Weaver, Angels stay hot

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The way things are going for the Los Angeles Angels, it's difficult for Jered Weaver to focus on the fact that he is one victory away from his first 20-win season in the majors.

Then again, the only reason the Angels still have a shot at a postseason berth is because their ace keeps winning. Weaver kept them within striking distance in the American League wild-card chase, posting his league-leading 19th victory on Sunday with a 4-1 decision over the struggling Chicago White Sox.

Albert Pujols reached the 100-RBI mark for the 11th time in 12 seasons with a two-run double as the Angels remained 2½ games behind Oakland for the second wild-card spot. Kendrys Morales hit a two-run homer that helped the Angels complete a three-game sweep.

"Obviously there's a little bit of scoreboard watching going on now as we dwindle down here," Weaver said. "It's obviously a great sweep, and hopefully we can keep it rolling against Seattle."

The White Sox lost their fifth in a row and lead Detroit by a game in the AL Central.

Weaver (19-4) threw 113 pitches in 6 1/3 innings, allowing a run and five hits with four strikeouts and dropping his ERA to 2.74.

The three-time All-Star right-hander established a career high for wins, eclipsing his total from last season.

"To get one more than last year is great, and now I've got a couple more starts to try and get 20," Weaver said. "Any win right now is important, personal accolades aside. That's what we've got to do - win ballgames, no matter what it takes."

The victory didn't come easily for Weaver, who battled through 94-degree heat during a 33-pitch first inning. He escaped a bases-loaded jam, striking out Alex Rios at the end of an 11-pitch at-bat and retiring A.J. Pierzynski on a grounder.

"It felt like it was a million degrees out there," Weaver said. "Having to throw upwards of 30 pitches in the first is obviously not what you want to do, but they made me work. That's what their game plan was, and they did a good job of it."

White Sox manager Robin Ventura bemoaned his team's failure again to come through in the clutch. They were 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position during the series.