Angels Rally in Eighth to Upend Twins
Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) – Mark Teixeira finished 3-for-4 with a homer, double and two runs scored, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim scored three times in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally past the Minnesota Twins, 5-3, and salvage a spilt in the four-game series.
Gary Matthews Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero both went 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored for the Angels, who have won three of their last five games.
Ervin Santana gave up three runs on nine hits over seven innings, and came away with a no-decision. He also matched his season-high with 10 strikeouts and did not walk a batter. Jose Arredondo (6-1) tossed a scoreless eighth to get the win.
Justin Morneau was 3-for-4, including a home run, and drove in all three runs for Minnesota, which lost for just the third time in its last 11 contests. Nick Punto collected three hits in defeat.
The Twins fell a half-game behind the White Sox for first place in the AL Central after Chicago defeated Tampa Bay earlier Sunday.
Kevin Slowey allowed two runs on eight hits and struck five over 6 1/3 innings, but did not receive a decision. Dennys Reyes surrendered a run in two-thirds of an inning, while Jesse Crain (5-3) gave up two runs to take the loss.
“This was a tough ballgame,” Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Slowey pitched well. We just couldn’t stop them at the end. We had opportunities, but our pitchers missed their spots late in the game.”
Trailing 3-2, the Angels scored three times in the eighth to pull ahead 5-3. Teixeira got things started with a double off Reyes, who relieved Slowey in the seventh. Crain then took over on the mound and Guerrero tripled off the center field wall, tying the game at three.
After Torii Hunter went down swinging, Matthews gave the Halos their first lead of the game with a triple into the right field corner. Juan Rivera followed with a sacrifice fly.
Francisco Rodriguez closed the door in the ninth to earn his MLB-best 50th save of the season. Rodriguez became just the ninth pitcher in Major League baseball history to record at least 50 saves in a season.
“It’s nice, I’m not going to lie,” Rodriguez said of reaching the plateau. “All the work I’ve put in is paying off. I would love to get the (saves) record and this is my best opportunity to do it.”
Three singles by Denard Span, Alexi Casilla and Morneau plated a run in the first inning, and Minnesota tacked on another run in the third. Joe Mauer had a two-out single and Morneau followed with an RBI double for a 2-0 Twins lead.
Leading off the sixth, Morneau drove a 2-1 slider to the seats in right. Teixeira put the Angels on the board by leading off the home half with a shot over the center field wall. Los Angeles picked up another run in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Chone Figgins.
Game Notes
Mauer has hit safely in a career-high 16 consecutive games, while Punto is riding a season-high 12-game hitting streak…Slowey has allowed two runs or less in each of his last four starts…Angels left fielder Garret Anderson left after the first inning with a sore left knee. Matthews replaced him in the lineup…Rodriguez joins Bobby Thigpen (1990), Eric Gagne (2002, 2003), John Smoltz (2002), Trevor Hoffman (1998), Randy Myers (1993), Mariano Rivera (2001, 2004), Rod Beck (1998) and Dennis Eckersley (1992).
08/24 19:47:38 ET