Angels lean on pitching and power to beat Marlins, 6-1
KEY MOMENT: After Adeiny Hechavarria’s first home run of the season gave Miami a 1-0 lead in the third inning, the Angels answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning on run-scoring hits by Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton, and a groundout by Albert Pujols.
AT THE PLATE: Trout’s home run in the seventh was his 30th, tying a career high and making him only the fifth player in American League history with two 30-home run seasons by his age-22 season. The others are Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Jose Canseco and Alex Rodriguez. Trout also had a run-scoring single and scored twice. Hamilton and Gordon Beckham matched Trout with two hits and a home run apiece, and Erick Aybar extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
ON THE MOUND: Hector Santiago was dominant, holding the Marlins to a run through 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five in a row at one point and gave up only a walk between Hechavarria’s home run leading off the third inning and Jeff Baker’s two-out single in the sixth. In his last nine outings, seven of them starts, Santiago’s earned- run average is 1.47. Kevin Jepsen, Fernando Salas and Huston Street combined to strike out five in 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
EXTRA BASES: Hamilton will be presented with the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award prior to Thursday’s game with the Oakland Athletics. The award is presented annually by Phi Delta Theta, Gehrig’s fraternity when he attended Columbia, to the player who best exemplifies the “giving character†of the New York Yankees Hall of Fame member The Angels continue to pursue a trade to fill out their injury-riddled rotation. The team hasn’t announced a pitcher for Saturday’s game with Oakland and Manager Mike Scioscia hinted that the starter could come from outside the clubhouse. “There’s certainly a possibility of some roster adjustments. If they’re definite or not we’ll see,†he said. “We’re going to have some in-house options to be able to start that game and hopefully give us some length.â€
UP NEXT: Four days after the Angels said goodbye to the Athletics in Oakland, the teams renew acquaintances in Anaheim with first place in the AL West and the best record in baseball again hanging in the balance. The A’s will start right-hander Sonny Gray (13-7, 3.00 ERA) in the opener. Gray gave up three runs over 8 1/3 innings in beating the Angels last weekend. He is 2-0 against them this season. The Angels will open the series with left-hander C.J. Wilson (10-8, 4.45). Wilson pitched well in his start in Oakland, holding the A’s to a run in 6 1/3 innings of a game the Angels lost. Wilson has a 1.96 ERA in his last three starts. On the air: TV: FS West. Radio: 830, 710, 1330.
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