Chicago, IL (Sports Network) – Howie Kendrick and Juan Rivera both knocked in three runs to back a strong start from Jered Weaver, as the Angels thumped the Chicago Cubs, 12-0, in the middle contest of a three-game interleague series at Wrigley Field.
Weaver (7-3) struck out 11 and issued no walks over seven scoreless innings. Scot Shields retired all six batters he faced in relief to finish off the two- hit shutout.
Bobby Abreu went 4-for-5 with a run batted in for the Angels, while Torii Hunter hit a two-run homer.
Chicago starter Ted Lilly (2-6), who flirted with a no-hitter in his previous start against the White Sox, yielded a season-high eight runs — six earned — on nine hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.
Lilly took a no-hitter into the ninth inning on Sunday, but Chicago’s Juan Pierre spoiled the bid with a leadoff single.
The veteran lefty was hoping to replicate his performance against the Angels. However, Kendrick began the game by homering over the right-field wall. Kevin Frandsen and Abreu then singled before Mike Napoli drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Rivera followed with a double to center that gave Los Angeles a 4-0 in the opening frame.
Lilly had allowed just four runs in his last four outings.
Hunter blasted a two-run homer in the fifth, and the Angels tacked on two more runs the next inning on RBI singles by Kendrick and Abreu.
Another run-scoring single off the bat of Kendrick made it 9-0 in the seventh.
The Angels scored three runs (one earned) off Bob Howry in the ninth.
Weaver leads the American League with 107 strikeouts…Hunter has 12 home runs this season…Marlon Byrd and Mike Fontenot both singled for the Cubs…The Angels have won three in a row and six of eight overall…Chicago fell to 3-5 on its nine-game homestand…The Cubs signed their top pick of the 2010 First- Year Player Draft, pitcher Hayden Simpson, to an undisclosed contract on Saturday. Simpson, 21, was taken 16th overall in the first round.