The Angels had two consecutive walk-off wins over the weekend to take the series from the Jays and improve to 3 1/2 game above the A’s.
Toronto scored a run in each the fourth and seventh innings, but the Angels answered back with one of their own in the bottom half of the innings to keep the game tied and send it to extra innings. Torii Hunter put the Angels on board with a solo shot in the fourth. The Angels scored another in the seventh when Reggie Willits doubled and was driven in by an RBI-double from Howie Kendrick. The game was sent to extras and ended when Juan Rivera hit an RBI-single with the bases loaded in the tenth for the walk-off win. John Lackey pitched eight strong, striking out seven and giving up just one run on six hits. He didn’t factor into the decision, and after K-Rod pitched a hitless ninth Scott Shields earned his third victory by holding the Jays hitless and scoreless in the tenth.
The Angels followed suit with another walk-off win on Sunday to take the series.
The Jays had a 3-0 lead by the third but the Angels scored two in the bottom half of the third to close the gap. Sean Rodriguez hit a two-run shot, his first major league homerun. Rodriquez was given the start in place of Howie Kendrick, who took a day of rest before the long 6-game road trip this week. The Angels were still down 3-2 but rallied for two in the bottom of the ninth to get their second consecutive walk-off win. Kendrick was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to send the tying run home. Macier Izturis then got a two-out RBI-single for the win.
Jon Garland went five innings but failed to get the win, in part due to a 44-pitch first inning. He gave a run in each of the first three innings, and finished after five with five hits, three runs, and three K’s. Darren Oliver and Jose Arrendondo combined for four scoreless innings, with Arrendondo taking the victory.
The Angels went 4-2 on the homestand, with all wins being walk-off gems.
