• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

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

Posted on: Friday, 19 August 2005, 00:28 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

More News in this Category