OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Erubiel Durazo is having no trouble adjusting to the American League.
Durazo homered and drove in four runs and Ted Lilly pitched 7 1/3 strong innings as the Oakland Athletics rolled to a 7-3 victory over the Anaheim Angels.
Although players can struggle after changing leagues, that has not been the case for Durazo, who was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a four-team trade on December 16. He has seven hits, including two homers, in his first 15 at-bats and is the first player in Oakland history to have 10 RBI after just four games.
"It's an island here and I like it," Durazo said. "I feel if I'm not hurt, I can produce for this team. It's far too early to say I'm determined. Ask me that in several months. I have a new team and new friends. Things have changed."
The 28-year-old first baseman capped a three-run first inning with a two-run single and belted a two-run homer off starter Kevin Appier (0-1) in the fifth to make it 7-1.
"Durazo had another big night," Oakland manager Ken Macha said. "He just keeps swinging the bat so well. He's been a huge surprise for us. We all knew what he could do, but this early? He's just charged up and flying around the bases when he gets a hit."
Lilly (1-0) benefited from the run support and was impresive in his season debut, allowing two runs and three hits. He issued two walks and struck out three.
"Ted Lilly continues to throw extremely well," Macha said. "I'm real pleased at his performance. He benefited from some nice defensive plays early on, and I think that helped settle him down in the early innings."
"I thought Ted pitched a heck of a game," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He had great stuff. I knew he was battling through arm trouble the last several years, but he looks like he's gotten over that. He had a very crisp fastball tonight."
Jeremy Fikac struggled in the eighth inning, but Chad Bradford retired four of the five batters he faced, allowing only a walk en route to his first save since August 22, 2002.
Appier was shelled for seven runs and eight hits in just four-plus innings and was in trouble from the start.
"My command wasn't all that bad, but my pitch count was up because they had so many runners on base," said Appier, who threw 108 pitches. "They just hit me."
Chris Singleton drew a one-out walk in the first inning and Miguel Tejada, who had three hits, followed with a single. Eric Chavez singled to plate Singleton for a 1-0 lead.
Tejada and Chavez pulled off a rare double steal and scored on Durazo's base hit into center field for a 3-0 edge.
"I just followed Miggie's lead," Chavez said. "I like to steal as long as I don't get thrown out. I don't think it's going to be a big part of our team this year, but it's fun, that's for sure."
Tejada opened the third with a double and scored on Jermaine Dye's one-out single. Anaheim's Tim Salmon tagged Lilly for a leadoff homer in the fourth, but Tejada made it 5-1 with a run-scoring base hit with two out in the bottom half.
Appier issued a leadoff walk to Dye in the fifth and left after Durazo drove a full-count offering over the right-center field wall.
Lilly walked Eric Owens to start the eighth and got the first out before giving way to Fikac, who loaded the bases and gave up up a two-run double to Garret Anderson with two out.
