Los Angeles 17, Oakland 4

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Barry Zito had such good command during his

four-inning outing Thursday he went out to the bullpen to reach his

day's pitch limit.

Zito allowed two hits for Oakland, but prospect Jeff Mathis

homered and drove in the winning run with a single to lift the Los

Angeles Angels to a 6-5 victory over the Athletics on Thursday.

Zito, 11-11 with a 4.48 ERA with the A's in 2004, needed just 39

pitches to get through his four innings, then threw 21 pitches in

the bullpen to get a full day's work. He has not allowed a run in

six innings over two starts this spring.

"I feel my stuff is crisp," Zito said. "But, then there is

always stuff to get better on."

After Mike Rouse tied the game with a two-run single in the top

of the ninth, Mathis lined a single to right to drive in the

winning run in the bottom half.

Mathis, who played at Double-A Arkansas last season, hit his

first homer in the eighth off Jimmy Serano.

"His confidence is high," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

^Notes:@ Angels closer Frankie Rodriguez worked a scoreless fourth,

giving him three scoreless innings this spring.