But whether there are any ways to explain it, Lackey has been simply dominant against the A's since coming up with the Angels in 2002.

Lackey was again superb against the A's on Tuesday, when the big right-hander threw a complete-game in the Angels' 5-1 win at Angel Stadium.

Lackey improved to 14-3 lifetime against Oakland with a 2.67 ERA in 25 starts and hasn't lost against the A's since April 18, 2007. But Lackey has no idea why he has been so tough against a team that has won three of the previous six American League West titles.

"I don't know, man," Lackey said. "Most of the time they're pretty big games and they're fun to pitch in. I kind of enjoy the 1-2 matchup because it's kind of been like that except this year."

Scioscia was just as perplexed as to why Lackey has had so much success against Oakland, especially at Angel Stadium, where he is 7-1 with a 2.41 ERA.

"I don't if there's one thing you can particularly look at with that," Scioscia said. "John's a good pitcher who's had a good career. I know the numbers are very good against those guys but John's just a good pitcher."

It showed Tuesday as he was just two outs away from a shutout when he allowed a home run to Jack Cust on a 0-2 fastball. Cust was just the second runner to advance past first base all night as the A's went 0-for-1 with runners in scoring position.

"It was just a four-seam fastball," Lackey said. "It was one of the only ones I threw all night. He just guessed right."

Lackey, though, still gladly took the complete game even though it wasn't a shutout. It was his third complete game of the season and his 13th of his career.

"I take pride in being a guy who eats up some innings," Lackey said. "I'm not a guy who likes to give the ball up much."

Lackey primarily used his two-seam fastball through the first three innings to keep his pitch count low and it worked. He threw just 98 pitches while striking out five and walking none.

"He wasn't throwing as hard as usually does and just had exceptional command," A's manager Bob Geren said. "He was ahead of the count all day. He pitched like one of the better pitchers in baseball and he is."

Lackey was also boosted by the Angels offense, which had been in a slump entering the game. It was just the fourth time in the last 12 games that the Angels scored at least five runs.

"We've been scuffling for the last couple days so today it felt like the old team of about 10 games ago," said Torii Hunter, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI. "We strung together some tough hits.

The Angels got out to a comfortable lead early as they scored four runs in the third inning. Mark Teixeira singled home a run before Hunter doubled home another run. Teixeira then scored on a sacrifice fly by Juan Rivera but the Angels received a scare on the play when Hunter was hit in the helmet while sliding into third base on a throw from A's pitcher Greg Smith, who cut off a throw from the outfield.

"I was a little dizzy but I've been there before," said Hunter. "I've hit plenty of walls and poles."

Hunter was evaluated by team doctors who asked him a series of questions, including where he was. Hunter, of course, had a clever answer.

"I just said, 'Minnesota,'" Hunter said. "He started laughing and knew I was all right."

Hunter remained in the game and scored on a two-out single by Gary Matthews Jr. Matthews went 2-for-3 and has five hits in his last three games while playing in place of Garret Anderson, who has been resting a sore knee.

"It's been a tough stretch from him the last couple months of not playing every day but there's still a role for him," Scioscia said. "It was a big night for him."

The Angels added their final run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Howie Kendrick, which scored Mike Napoli, who doubled earlier in the inning.

The Angels have now won three out of their last four games after losing six of out of eight games before that stretch. But Scioscia isn't concerned about his team's ups and downs at this point of the season.

"I think after the season you can look back on the whole season and look back at the peaks and valleys," Scioscia said. "But our challenge is the same, there's a ball game every night. And that's how we're going to approach it."