A.J. Griffin flying high for Oakland

Athletics pitcher A.J. Griffin (2-0) permitted only one run and five hits -- four of them singles -- over eight sharp innings during Oakland's 8-1 rout of the Angels on Thursday night. Griffin matched the longest outing of his brief career and had two strikeouts against just one walk during his 110-pitch performance (73 strikes).

The 25-year-old righty has completed at least six innings in each of his two starts this season -- a plateau he reached nine times in his 15 starts a year ago. Griffin is scheduled to face lowly Houston during his next projected start on Tuesday.