Rivera hits two three-run homers as Angels maul Red Sox

TORONTO (Reuters) – Juan Rivera hit a pair of three-run
homers, lifting the Los Angeles Angels to a 13-4 win over the
Boston Red Sox in battle of American League division leaders
Thursday night in Los Angeles.

Rivera’s first home in the fifth keyed a six-run inning,
and Darin Erstad, Casey Kotchman and Bengie Molina all added
fifth-inning run-scoring singles for the Angels, who snapped a
two-game losing streak and moved 2- games ahead of the Oakland
A’s in the AL West.

The Red Sox dropped their second straight game and third in
the past four, but still lead the New York Yankees by four
games in the AL East.

Bartolo Colon (16-6) improved to 5-0 in his past six starts
with another strong outing. He allowed three runs on eight hits
over seven innings, striking out five and walking none.

Rivera wound up with four hits and six RBI, as the Angels
pounded out 15 hits off three Red Sox pitchers, including
starter and loser Tim Wakefield.

Wakefield (12-10) allowed six runs on seven hits over 4 1/3
innings, striking out five and walking four.

Kotchman also homered for the Angels and had three hits,
scored three runs and drove in a pair. Molina had three hits
and three runs scored with an RBI, while Erstad had two hits
and two RBI.

Kotchman’s second-inning homer put the Angels in front and
Los Angeles blew the game open with six runs in the fifth to
take a 7-0 lead. They added a single run in the sixth, two more
in the seventh and Rivera hit another three-run homer in the
eighth.

Gabe Kapler had a two-run single for the Red Sox, while
Bill Mueller homered in the ninth and had two hits.

In Cleveland, Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run homer and drove
in three runs as the Indians beat the Texas Rangers 9-4.

Jake Westbrook (11-13) pitched six innings, allowing four
runs on 10 hits walking one and striking out one for the win.

C.J. Wilson (0-6) pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing five runs
on seven hits, walking one and striking out one to take the
loss. Mark Teixeira had one hit and drove in two runs for the
Rangers.

In Minneapolis, Matthew LeCroy hit a two-run homer as the
Minnesota Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 7-3.

Joe Mays (6-8) pitched six innings, allowing three runs on
nine hits, walking two and striking out two for the win.

Ryan Franklin (6-13) pitched six innings, allowing five
runs on 11 hits, walking one and striking out four to take the
loss. Adrian Beltre homered for the Mariners.