The Angels-A’s series is now tied at one game apiece after the Angels came from behind to beat the A’s 5-3 on Wednesday.
The Angels tied it at 2-2 in the third when Gary Matthews Jr. led things off by getting hit by a pitch. Kendrick doubled him over to third and Matthews Jr. scored on Mathis’ sacfly and Kendrick scored when Casey Kotchman, batting second, grounded out. The Angels were then down again, 3-2, heading into the eighth. Casey Kotchman led things off with a double, and pinch runner Reggie Willits came around to score on Vlad’s RBI-single. Garret Anderson, back in the lineup after resting for two days during a slump, came to the plate and drove a two-run shot to put the Angels up 5-3.
Ervin Santana struggled at first, giving the A’s two runs in the first two innings. He regained control and kept the A’s scoreless for his next five innings, and totaled seven K’s. Santana left with a tie, though, and Scott Shields earned the win instead of Santana. Shields actually gave up a go-ahead solo homer to Mark Ellis but the Angel rally in the bottom half allowed him to get his fourth win. K-Rod pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 33rd save. K-Rod need just two more saves in the next 11 games to break John Smoltz’s record for most saves before the All-Star break.
Joe Saunders faces Dana Eveland in today’s rubber match. Saunders will go for his 12th while Eveland is at 6-5.
John Lackey was also named June’s Pitcher of the Month for his 5-0 record and 1.16 ERA for the month.
