Jon Garland's complete game leads Angels over Blue Jays

Jon Garland was a picture of efficiency Sunday, needing only 98 pitches -- 67 were strikes -- to breeze through Toronto's lineup in a 7-1 victory over the Blue Jays in Angel Stadium.

The right-hander gave up six hits, his only blemish Rod Barajas' fifth-inning home run, to help the Angels increase their AL West lead over Oakland to a season-high six games.

Garland (8-5) walked none and struck out three, which is not unusual; the sinker-ball specialist is not overpowering, with 50 strikeouts in 117 1/3 innings this season.

But two of those whiffs came in the second against good hitters -- Lyle Overbay and Scott Rolen -- after Toronto put a runner on third with none out. Garland got Gregg Zaun to ground out, ending the inning.

"I guess I didn't want them to score," Garland said, when asked what got into him in the second. "I jumped ahead of them and made quality pitches. I was able to put them on the defensive, and they chased some pitches out of the zone."

The Angels scored twice in the first on Garret Anderson's two-out, two-run double to left, and reserve Juan Rivera continued his push for more playing time with a solo home run in the second, his second homer in his last two games.

Jeff Mathis, who will handle the bulk of the catching duties after Mike Napoli was put on the disabled list because of a sore shoulder Sunday afternoon, keyed a three-run sixth inning with a two-run single and added a run-scoring single in the seventh.

Rivera, starting for the fourth time in eight games, had a hand in the defensive play of the game, fielding Overbay's two-out double off the right-field wall and throwing to second baseman Howie Kendrick, who nailed Vernon Wells at the plate to end the fourth.

But it was Rivera's home run to center field against Toronto starter Jesse Litsch (8-5) that could resonate most with Manager Mike Scioscia, who may have little choice but to play Rivera over struggling outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. more often.

"He's certainly going to get a chance to contribute," Scioscia said of Rivera. "It may not be on an everyday basis, but if he keeps swinging like this, he'll get more at-bats."