The Angels beat the Orioles 11-6 on Saturday to clinch the series and give them their ninth win in the last ten.
The Angels took an early lead again with two in the first off Torii Hunter’s two-RBI single, the first of five RBI that Hunter tallied for the night. The O’s took a short one-run lead in the bottom half but Casey Kotchman put the Angels back on top with a two-run homerun in the third, a career-high tying 11 for the season. Hunter then added a solo shot of his own in the same inning. Howie Kendrick singled in Hunter in the sixth for another run before Juan Rivera blasted a three-run homerun in the eighth to put the Angels up 9-5. Garret Anderson scored on Rivera’s homerun to tally 1,000 career runs, which is most for any Angels player ever. Hunter’s performance wasn’t over yet; he added his fifth RBI, fourth run, and third hit with a two-run homerun in the ninth.
Jon Garland was backed by enough run support to get his ninth win of the year. He gave up a three-run homerun to give the O’s a one-run lead in the first, but was lights-out for the next four inning before giving up another two-run homerun in the sixth. Garland left with one out in the sixth to make way for Jose Arrendondo, who finished the inning plus another for the hold. Darren Oliver threw the final two innings, giving up one run on one hit, before the Angels got the win to clinch the series.
The Angels can get the sweep on Sunday, sending Ervin Santana to the mound to face lefty Garrett Olson. Santana is looking for his 12th win, and is 1-1 lifetime against the Orioles. Olson is 6-5 but with a stocky 6.11 ERA.
