"We beat a good team and a great pitcher tonight," Jack Hannahan said. "Any time you win a game is huge, especially because our second half we've struggled and it all started after the series with these guys right before the All-Star break. We're trying to get out of it and this is a big win."

Kendry Morales connected for his first home run of the season in the fifth for Los Angeles to break up a scoreless game, but the Angels did little else against Sean Gallagher (2-2). The right-hander struck out six and didn't walk a batter in seven sharp innings, giving up four hits and one run. He matched his career high for innings pitched.

Gallagher also beat the Angels on July 11 with seven strong innings and seven strikeouts in a 9-2 victory.

"This guy has thrown two terrific games against us," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We haven't been able to get comfortable against him. I've heard he has had some control problems, but against us he's been right on the money."

Lackey (11-4) had allowed only one base runner past first through the initial four innings before running into trouble. The right-hander has owned Oakland, too. He is 14-4 with two complete games and a shutout lifetime against the A's, his most wins against any opponent. He came into this start 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in the 2008 matchups.

"I just wasn't locating well," Lackey said. "I fell into a pattern a little bit. I threw my curveball a little too much."

After Morales' homer to start the fifth, A's No. 9 hitter Hannahan added a solo shot of his own in the bottom half to tie it. Aaron Cunningham doubled one out later and Sweeney followed with an RBI single.

Lackey allowed nine hits for the third straight start for Los Angeles, which clinched the AL West on Sept. 10 - the club's fourth division title in five years. He allowed four runs and struck out four.

"John's one of the best pitchers in the American League. He's dominated us," A's manager Bob Geren said. "It's nice to beat him."

The Angels' relievers weren't any better. Jason Bulger loaded the bases to start the seventh with a walk, a single and another walk. Kurt Suzuki drew a bases-loaded walk and Bulger plunked Travis Buck to bring home another run. Hannahan drew a bases-loaded walk against Darren O'Day as the A's batted around in the inning. Buck drove in another run with a single in the eighth.

Oakland had won two straight for just the fourth time since the All-Star break, so this little run is something of note considering this young club's up-and-down year.

Shortstop Erick Aybar returned to the Angels' lineup and batted leadoff, playing three innings on defense and going 0-for-2 with a strikeout in his first game since leaving in the ninth inning Aug. 27 with tightness in his left hamstring. Scioscia likely will play Aybar again one of the next two games in Oakland, but not for a full game yet.