AL: SEATTLE at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - SEATTLE 1 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 6 10 0 LA ANGELS 4 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 8 11 0 (TOP 9) CURRENT PITCHERS: SEA - BRANDON MORROW LAA - SCOT SHIELDS DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: J VIDRO (.300, 0-FOR-4) R IBANEZ (.285, 1-FOR-3, BB, RBI) J GUILLEN (.262, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>
AL: SEATTLE at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">SEATTLE (6) VS LA ANGELS (8) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 5 0 1 1 0 1 3 .330 J Vidro dh 4 1 0 0 0 0 2 .300 R Ibanez lf 3 1 1 1 1 1 3 .285 J Guillen rf 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 .262 B Broussard 1b 3 2 1 0 1 1 1 .308 K Johjima c 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 .309 A Beltre 3b 4 1 2 1 0 1 2 .275 Y Betancourt ss 3 0 1 1 1 1 2 .287 J Lopez 2b 3 0 1 1 1 0 2 .273 Totals 33 6 10 6 4 6 17 BATTING: 2B - B Broussard (2, J Weaver); A Beltre (14, J Weaver); R Ibanez (11, D Moseley). RBI - J Guillen (29), J Lopez (25), I Suzuki (22), A Beltre (26), Y Betancourt (21), R Ibanez (29). 2-out RBI - J Guillen, A Beltre, Y Betancourt, R Ibanez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Ibanez 2, J Guillen 1, I Suzuki 1. Team LOB - 7. BASERUNNING: CS - Y Betancourt (3, 2nd base by D Moseley/M Napoli). LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits lf 3 2 1 0 2 1 0 .339 O Cabrera ss 4 2 3 0 1 0 3 .322 V Guerrero rf 5 2 3 3 0 1 3 .350 G Matthews Jr cf 3 1 1 3 1 2 1 .291 C Kotchman 1b 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 .309 a-R Quinlan ph-1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .271 H Kendrick 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .256 M Napoli c 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .243 S Hillenbrand dh 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .239 E Aybar 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .254 Totals 32 8 11 8 6 6 13 a-hit sacrifice fly to shortstop for C Kotchman in the 7th. BATTING: 2B - O Cabrera (17, F Hernandez). HR - G Matthews Jr (7, 1st inning off F Hernandez 2 on, 1 Out), C Kotchman (5, 1st inning off F Hernandez 0 on, 1 Out), V Guerrero (11, 5th inning off F Hernandez 2 on, 0 Out). SF - R Quinlan. RBI - G Matthews Jr 3 (31), C Kotchman (26), V Guerrero 3 (44), R Quinlan (11). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - V Guerrero 2, H Kendrick 2. Team LOB - 7. ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE - 100 221 00 -- 6 LA ANGELS - 400 030 10 -- 8 ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era F Hernandez 6 9 7 7 1 5 3 4.10 S Green 1/3 1 1 1 2 0 0 3.09 G Sherrill 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.72 B Morrow 1 1/3 1 0 0 3 1 0 1.83 LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Weaver 4 2/3 9 5 5 3 3 0 4.25 D Moseley 2 1/3 1 1 1 1 1 0 1.55 S Shields 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.83 WP - J Weaver. IBB - G Matthews Jr (by S Green). Pitches-strikes: F Hernandez 96-62; S Green 19-7; G Sherrill 2-2; B Morrow 27-15; J Weaver 90-55; D Moseley 30-17; S Shields 15-10. Ground balls-fly balls: F Hernandez 8-4; S Green 1-0; G Sherrill 0-1; B Morrow 0-2; J Weaver 4-7; D Moseley 3-2; S Shields 1-0. Batters faced: F Hernandez 27; S Green 4; G Sherrill 1; B Morrow 7; J Weaver 26; D Moseley 8; S Shields 3. UMPIRES: HP--Ed Montague. 1B--Bill Miller. 2B--Marvin Hudson. 3B--Jerry Layne. Weather: 64 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: SEATTLE at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - PITCHING CHANGE LAA: FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ (0-2, 2.28) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: SEATTLE 6, LA ANGELS 8 DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: J VIDRO (.300, 0-FOR-4)</div>
AL: SEATTLE at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL AT LA ANGELS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: F Rodriguez relieved S Shields. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: SEATTLE 6 LA ANGELS 8 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: J Vidro (.300, 0-FOR-4)</div>
AL: SEATTLE at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - SEATTLE 1 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 6 10 0 LA ANGELS 4 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 x 8 11 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: SEA - FELIX HERNANDEZ, SEAN GREEN (7TH), GEORGE SHERRILL (7TH), BRANDON MORROW (7TH) AND KENJI JOHJIMA LAA - JERED WEAVER, DUSTIN MOSELEY (5TH), SCOT SHIELDS (8TH), FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ (9TH) AND MIKE NAPOLI HOME RUNS: SEA - NONE LAA - GARY MATTHEWS JR (7) OFF FELIX HERNANDEZ IN THE 1ST, 2 ON CASEY KOTCHMAN (5) OFF FELIX HERNANDEZ IN THE 1ST, 0 ON VLADIMIR GUERRERO (11) OFF FELIX HERNANDEZ IN THE 5TH, 2 ON</div>
AL: SEATTLE at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - SEATTLE 1 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 6 10 0 LA ANGELS 4 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 x 8 11 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: SEA - FELIX HERNANDEZ, SEAN GREEN (7TH), GEORGE SHERRILL (7TH), BRANDON MORROW (7TH) AND KENJI JOHJIMA LAA - JERED WEAVER, DUSTIN MOSELEY (5TH), SCOT SHIELDS (8TH), FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ (9TH) AND MIKE NAPOLI WP - DUSTIN MOSELEY (4-0) LP - FELIX HERNANDEZ (3-3) SAVE - FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ (18) HOME RUNS: SEA - NONE LAA - GARY MATTHEWS JR (7) OFF FELIX HERNANDEZ IN THE 1ST, 2 ON CASEY KOTCHMAN (5) OFF FELIX HERNANDEZ IN THE 1ST, 0 ON VLADIMIR GUERRERO (11) OFF FELIX HERNANDEZ IN THE 5TH, 2 ON TIME: 2:55 ATT: 39,288 PROBABLES: BAL - BRIAN BURRES (2-2, 3.27) LAA - KELVIM ESCOBAR (6-2, 2.64) PROBABLES: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA (2-7, 5.77) SEA - CHA SEUNG BAEK (2-2, 4.60)</div>
AL: SEATTLE at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">SEATTLE (6) VS LA ANGELS (8) - FINAL SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 5 0 1 1 0 1 3 .330 J Vidro dh 4 1 0 0 1 0 2 .300 R Ibanez lf 4 1 1 1 1 2 4 .283 J Guillen rf 5 0 1 1 0 1 2 .260 B Broussard 1b 4 2 1 0 1 2 2 .302 K Johjima c 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 .309 A Beltre 3b 4 1 2 1 0 1 2 .275 Y Betancourt ss 3 0 1 1 1 1 2 .287 J Lopez 2b 3 0 1 1 1 0 2 .273 Totals 36 6 10 6 5 9 20 BATTING: 2B - B Broussard (2, J Weaver); A Beltre (14, J Weaver); R Ibanez (11, D Moseley). RBI - J Guillen (29), J Lopez (25), I Suzuki (22), A Beltre (26), Y Betancourt (21), R Ibanez (29). 2-out RBI - J Guillen, A Beltre, Y Betancourt, R Ibanez. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Broussard 1, R Ibanez 2, J Guillen 1, I Suzuki 1. Team LOB - 8. BASERUNNING: CS - Y Betancourt (3, 2nd base by D Moseley/M Napoli). LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg R Willits lf 3 2 1 0 2 1 0 .339 O Cabrera ss 4 2 3 0 1 0 3 .322 V Guerrero rf 5 2 3 3 0 1 3 .350 G Matthews Jr cf 3 1 1 3 1 2 1 .291 C Kotchman 1b 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 .309 a-R Quinlan ph-1b 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .271 H Kendrick 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .256 M Napoli c 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 .243 S Hillenbrand dh 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .239 E Aybar 3b 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 .254 Totals 32 8 11 8 6 6 13 a-hit sacrifice fly to shortstop for C Kotchman in the 7th. BATTING: 2B - O Cabrera (17, F Hernandez). HR - G Matthews Jr (7, 1st inning off F Hernandez 2 on, 1 Out), C Kotchman (5, 1st inning off F Hernandez 0 on, 1 Out), V Guerrero (11, 5th inning off F Hernandez 2 on, 0 Out). SF - R Quinlan. RBI - G Matthews Jr 3 (31), C Kotchman (26), V Guerrero 3 (44), R Quinlan (11). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - V Guerrero 2, H Kendrick 2. Team LOB - 7. ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE - 100 221 000 -- 6 LA ANGELS - 400 030 10x -- 8 ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era F Hernandez (L, 3-3) 6 9 7 7 1 5 3 4.10 S Green 1/3 1 1 1 2 0 0 3.09 G Sherrill 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.72 B Morrow 1 1/3 1 0 0 3 1 0 1.83 LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era J Weaver 4 2/3 9 5 5 3 3 0 4.25 D Moseley (W, 4-0) 2 1/3 1 1 1 1 1 0 1.55 S Shields (H, 12) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.83 F Rodriguez (S, 18) 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 2.19 WP - J Weaver, F Rodriguez. IBB - G Matthews Jr (by S Green). Pitches-strikes: F Hernandez 96-62; S Green 19-7; G Sherrill 2-2; B Morrow 27-15; J Weaver 90-55; D Moseley 30-17; S Shields 15-10; F Rodriguez 19-10. Ground balls-fly balls: F Hernandez 8-4; S Green 1-0; G Sherrill 0-1; B Morrow 0-2; J Weaver 4-7; D Moseley 3-2; S Shields 1-0; F Rodriguez 0-0. Batters faced: F Hernandez 27; S Green 4; G Sherrill 1; B Morrow 7; J Weaver 26; D Moseley 8; S Shields 3; F Rodriguez 4. UMPIRES: HP--Ed Montague. 1B--Bill Miller. 2B--Marvin Hudson. 3B--Jerry Layne. T--2:55. Att--39,288. Weather: 64 degrees, clear. Wind: 7 mph, out to center.</div>
AL: SEATTLE at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SEATTLE (6) AT LA ANGELS (8) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SEATTLE 1ST: I Suzuki grounded out to third. J Vidro flied out to center. R Ibanez walked. R Ibanez to second on wild pitch by J Weaver. J Guillen singled to left, R Ibanez scored. B Broussard struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 1, LA ANGELS 0. LA ANGELS 1ST: R Willits flied out to left. O Cabrera reached on infield single to pitcher. V Guerrero singled to left, O Cabrera to second. G Matthews Jr homered to center, O Cabrera and V Guerrero scored. C Kotchman homered to center. H Kendrick flied out to right. M Napoli grounded out to third. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 1, LA ANGELS 4. SEATTLE 4TH: B Broussard walked. K Johjima singled to left, B Broussard to second. A Beltre struck out swinging. Y Betancourt walked, B Broussard to third, K Johjima to second. J Lopez singled to left, B Broussard scored, K Johjima to third, Y Betancourt to second. I Suzuki singled to right, K Johjima scored, Y Betancourt to third, J Lopez to second. J Vidro grounded into fielder's choice to third, Y Betancourt out at home, J Lopez to third, I Suzuki to second. R Ibanez flied out to center. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 3, LA ANGELS 4. SEATTLE 5TH: J Guillen flied out to right. B Broussard doubled to left. K Johjima flied out to center. A Beltre doubled to left, B Broussard scored. Y Betancourt singled to center, A Beltre scored. D Moseley relieved J Weaver. Y Betancourt caught stealing second, catcher to second.(2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 5, LA ANGELS 4. LA ANGELS 5TH: R Willits walked. O Cabrera singled to right center, R Willits to second. V Guerrero homered to right center, R Willits and O Cabrera scored. G Matthews Jr struck out swinging. C Kotchman grounded out to first. H Kendrick grounded out to second. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 5, LA ANGELS 7. SEATTLE 6TH: J Lopez walked. I Suzuki lined out to left. J Vidro grounded into fielder's choice to second, J Lopez out at second. R Ibanez doubled to deep center, J Vidro scored. J Guillen lined out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 6, LA ANGELS 7. LA ANGELS 7TH: S Green relieved F Hernandez. R Willits singled to left. O Cabrera walked, R Willits to second. V Guerrero grounded out to second, R Willits to third, O Cabrera to second. G Matthews Jr intentionally walked. G Sherrill relieved S Green. R Quinlan hit for C Kotchman. R Quinlan hit sacrifice fly to shortstop, R Willits scored. B Morrow relieved G Sherrill. H Kendrick flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 6, LA ANGELS 8.</div>
AL: SEATTLE at LA ANGELS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SEATTLE (6) AT LA ANGELS (8) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Seattle Starting Lineups -- I Suzuki CF, J Vidro DH, R Ibanez LF, J Guillen RF, B Broussard 1B, K Johjima C, A Beltre 3B, Y Betancourt SS, J Lopez 2B, F Hernandez RHP. La Angels Starting Lineups -- R Willits LF, O Cabrera SS, V Guerrero RF, G Matthews Jr CF, C Kotchman 1B, H Kendrick 2B, M Napoli C, S Hillenbrand DH, E Aybar 3B, J Weaver RHP. Umpires -- Ed Montague (HP), Bill Miller (1B), Marvin Hudson (2B), Jerry Layne (3B). Gametime Weather: 64 degrees, Clear, wind out to center at 7 mph. SEATTLE 1ST: I Suzuki grounded out to third. J Vidro flied out to center. R Ibanez walked. R Ibanez to second on wild pitch by J Weaver. J Guillen singled to left, R Ibanez scored. B Broussard struck out looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 1, LA ANGELS 0. LA ANGELS 1ST: R Willits flied out to left. O Cabrera reached on infield single to pitcher. V Guerrero singled to left, O Cabrera to second. G Matthews Jr homered to center, O Cabrera and V Guerrero scored. C Kotchman homered to center. H Kendrick flied out to right. M Napoli grounded out to third. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 1, LA ANGELS 4. SEATTLE 2ND: K Johjima singled to center. A Beltre singled to left, K Johjima to second. Y Betancourt flied out to center. J Lopez popped out to shortstop. I Suzuki grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 1, LA ANGELS 4. LA ANGELS 2ND: S Hillenbrand grounded out to shortstop. E Aybar grounded out to first. R Willits struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 1, LA ANGELS 4. SEATTLE 3RD: J Vidro grounded out to second. R Ibanez struck out swinging. J Guillen flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 1, LA ANGELS 4. LA ANGELS 3RD: O Cabrera doubled to deep right. O Cabrera out at second on runner's fielder's choice. V Guerrero singled to right center. G Matthews Jr struck out looking. C Kotchman singled to center, V Guerrero to second. H Kendrick struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 1, LA ANGELS 4. SEATTLE 4TH: B Broussard walked. K Johjima singled to left, B Broussard to second. A Beltre struck out swinging. Y Betancourt walked, B Broussard to third, K Johjima to second. J Lopez singled to left, B Broussard scored, K Johjima to third, Y Betancourt to second. I Suzuki singled to right, K Johjima scored, Y Betancourt to third, J Lopez to second. J Vidro grounded into fielder's choice to third, Y Betancourt out at home, J Lopez to third, I Suzuki to second. R Ibanez flied out to center. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 3, LA ANGELS 4. LA ANGELS 4TH: M Napoli grounded out to third. S Hillenbrand grounded out to shortstop. E Aybar flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 3, LA ANGELS 4. SEATTLE 5TH: J Guillen flied out to right. B Broussard doubled to left. K Johjima flied out to center. A Beltre doubled to left, B Broussard scored. Y Betancourt singled to center, A Beltre scored. D Moseley relieved J Weaver. Y Betancourt caught stealing second, catcher to second.(2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 5, LA ANGELS 4. LA ANGELS 5TH: R Willits walked. O Cabrera singled to right center, R Willits to second. V Guerrero homered to right center, R Willits and O Cabrera scored. G Matthews Jr struck out swinging. C Kotchman grounded out to first. H Kendrick grounded out to second. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 5, LA ANGELS 7. SEATTLE 6TH: J Lopez walked. I Suzuki lined out to left. J Vidro grounded into fielder's choice to second, J Lopez out at second. R Ibanez doubled to deep center, J Vidro scored. J Guillen lined out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 6, LA ANGELS 7. LA ANGELS 6TH: M Napoli struck out swinging. S Hillenbrand popped out to second. E Aybar bunt grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 6, LA ANGELS 7. SEATTLE 7TH: B Broussard grounded out to shortstop. K Johjima struck out swinging. A Beltre grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 6, LA ANGELS 7. LA ANGELS 7TH: S Green relieved F Hernandez. R Willits singled to left. O Cabrera walked, R Willits to second. V Guerrero grounded out to second, R Willits to third, O Cabrera to second. G Matthews Jr intentionally walked. G Sherrill relieved S Green. R Quinlan hit for C Kotchman. R Quinlan hit sacrifice fly to shortstop, R Willits scored. B Morrow relieved G Sherrill. H Kendrick flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 6, LA ANGELS 8. SEATTLE 8TH: R Quinlan at first base. S Shields relieved D Moseley. Y Betancourt struck out swinging. J Lopez grounded out to first. I Suzuki struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 6, LA ANGELS 8. LA ANGELS 8TH: M Napoli walked. S Hillenbrand singled to right, M Napoli to second. E Aybar bunted into fielder's choice to third, S Hillenbrand out at second, M Napoli to third. R Willits walked, E Aybar to second. O Cabrera fouled out to catcher. V Guerrero struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 6, LA ANGELS 8. SEATTLE 9TH: F Rodriguez relieved S Shields. J Vidro walked. R Ibanez struck out swinging, J Vidro to second on wild pitch by F Rodriguez. J Guillen struck out swinging. B Broussard struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 6, LA ANGELS 8.</div>
Guerrero, Matthews, Jr. power Angels past Mariners <h3>LA ANGELS 8, SEATTLE 6</h3>ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels ofAnaheim appear to heed the conventional wisdom that it isimportant to put the opponent on their heels early. Gary Matthews Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero each hit three-runhomers as the Angels won the rubber match of the three-game setagainst the Seattle Mariners, 8-6, on Wednesday. Anaheim has taken advantage of teams all season with quickstarts, outscoring their opposition in the first, 59-22, ontheir way to posting a 23-4 record when they score in theopening frame. With the Angels trailing, 1-0, going into the bottom of thefirst, Matthews followed consecutive singles from OrlandoCabrera and Guerrero with a three-run blast off Mariners starterFelix Hernandez (3-3) to give Anaheim an early 3-1 advantage. After Seattle had recaptured the lead at 5-4 in the fifth,Guerrero launched a three-run shot to right-center off Hernandez- the third homer allowed by the righthander in the contest -to push the Angels ahead 7-5. Casey Kotchman also homered and Cabrera had three hits for theAngels, who have won 11 of their last 14 games. Dustin Moseley (4-0) yielded a run over 2 1/3 innings to get thewin in relief of starter Jered Weaver, who was pulled afterallowing five runs in 4 2/3 innings. Scot Shields followedMoseley with a perfect eighth before giving way to closerFrancisco Rodriguez, who worked around a walk and struck out theside for his 18th save in 19 chances. The Angels' bullpen came through once again, insuring Anaheim's105th consecutive victory in a contest they lead after eightinnings, the longest such active streak in the majors. Hernandez, who was frustrated for being pulled from his laststart against Kansas City, felt the brunt of the Angels'offensive attack as he surrendered seven runs and nine hits witha walk and five strikeouts over six frames. The righthanderyielded each of the three homers Anaheim hit in the contest. Kenji Johjima and Adrian Beltre each posted two hits for theMariners, who has dropped two straight contest after a four-gamewinning streak.
Guerrero, Matthews Jr. power Angels past Mariners <h3>LA ANGELS 8, SEATTLE 6</h3>ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels ofAnaheim appear to heed the conventional wisdom that it isimportant to put the opponent on its heels early. Gary Matthews Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero each hit three-runhomers as the Angels won the rubber match of the three-game setagainst the Seattle Mariners, 8-6, on Wednesday. Anaheim has taken advantage of teams all season with quickstarts, outscoring their opposition in the first, 59-22, ontheir way to posting a 23-4 record when they score in theopening frame. With the Angels trailing, 1-0, going into the bottom of thefirst, Matthews followed consecutive singles from OrlandoCabrera and Guerrero with a three-run blast off Mariners starterFelix Hernandez (3-3) to give Anaheim an early 3-1 advantage. "We got some good hitting counts and drove the ball well,"Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Gary had a great at-bat andgot us early on the board." After Seattle had recaptured the lead at 5-4 in the fifth,Guerrero launched a three-run shot to right-center off Hernandez- the third homer allowed by the righthander in the contest -to push the Angels ahead, 7-5. "The only thing I've been able to do lately with two strikes isremind myself to protect the zone a little bit more," Guerrerosaid through a translator. "With that particular pitch, I wasable to square up and put a good swing on it." Casey Kotchman also homered and Cabrera had three hits for theAngels, who have won 11 of their last 14 games. "We're getting into a comfort level on the offensive side,"Scioscia said. "It's good to see us drive the ball and becomepretty consistent about scoring runs." Dustin Moseley (4-0) yielded a run over 2 1/3 innings to get thewin in relief of starter Jered Weaver, who was pulled afterallowing five runs in 4 2/3 innings. "I think the command just really wasn't there," Weaver said. "Iwas struggling with my fastball command, but the off-speedstuff felt great. Obviously, I didn't get as deep as I wantedto, but we got the win and that's all that matters." Scot Shields followed Moseley with a perfect eighth beforegiving way to closer Francisco Rodriguez, who worked around awalk and struck out the side for his 18th save in 19 chances. The Angels' bullpen came through once again, ensuring Anaheim's105th consecutive victory in a contest they led after eightinnings, the longest such active streak in the majors. "It's good, obviously, for us to score runs because there'sgoing to be times where we're not doing well and (the bullpen)picks us up," Guerrero said. "We'll continue to give them a lotof support because we have a really good pitching staff and welook for all of us to contribute." Hernandez, who was frustrated for being pulled from his laststart against Kansas City, felt the brunt of the Angels'offensive attack as he surrendered seven runs and nine hits witha walk and five strikeouts over six frames. "Today, for some reason, he was up in the strike zone and wedidn't foul off very many pitches," Guerrero said of Hernandez."Give credit to our hitters because they didn't miss pitchesthat they shouldn't have missed. They did a nice job." Kenji Johjima and Adrian Beltre each posted two hits for theMariners, who have dropped two straight contests following afour-game winning streak. "Those guys have six or seven guys who are really swingingwell," Scioscia said. "Tonight Jered didn't do quite as well,but our bullpen really came in and did well."
Guerrero, Matthews Jr. power Angels past Mariners* =================================================== LA ANGELS 8, SEATTLE 6 ---------------------- ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim appear to heed the conventional
