Angels’ Weaver no-hits Twins

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Jered Weaver pitched the second no-hitter in the majors in less than two weeks, completely overmatching Minnesota and leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 9-0 win over the Twins on Wednesday night.

Weaver struck out nine and walked one. The Twins never came close to getting a hit against the All-Star right-hander.

“It was an easy ride,” Weaver said.

Phil Humber of the Chicago White Sox threw a perfect game at Seattle on April 21.

Weaver (4-0), a California native who played at Long Beach State, began the ninth by quickly retiring Jamey Carroll on a routine fly and striking out Denard Span looking.

Weaver then got Alexi Casilla to lift a long fly that right fielder Torii Hunter easily caught at the warning track. The Angels’ ace watched his Gold Glove outfielder make the play, and put his hands on his head as the Angels rushed out to mob him.

“Spiderman out there. I knew he had a bead on it,” Weaver said of Hunter.

An inning earlier, Weaver and his teammates could only hope when Trevor Plouffe lined a shot that hooked foul a few feet before reaching the left-field foul pole.

After that, Weaver finished off the Twins in fast order. His gem complete, Weaver hugged his wife, his dad and his mom, who was crying on the field.

“I was locked in for the most part,” he said. “My mom, dad, wife, this was awesome.”

Weaver will soon get a chance to do it again against the Twins – his next start is scheduled for Monday at Minnesota.

“I’m at a loss for words right now. It hasn’t kicked in yet,” he said. “Thank you for all your support. Couldn’t have done it without the defense. The guys were picking me up left and right.”

This was the second Angels no-hitter in less than a year – Ervin Santana pitched one July 27 at Cleveland – and the 10th for the Angels franchise, including four by Nolan Ryan.

“This is so surreal I can’t even believe this,” he said.

Only one Minnesota batter reached base through the first seven innings, and that was when catcher Chris Iannetta committed a passed ball on strike three to Chris Parmelee with two out in the second. Josh Willingham drew the only walk Weaver allowed with two outs in the seventh.

“He dominated us, there’s no question about it,” Span said. “He was doing everything.”

The Angels’ three-game sweep of the Twins included a complete-game three-hit shutout on Tuesday night by Jerome Williams, who retired 18 of his last 19 batters.

The Twins haven’t had a hit in the last 15 innings.