GAME THREAD: AL: LA ANGELS (56-40) at MINNESOTA (51-46)

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE
LAA: DUSTIN MOSELEY (4-1, 3.42) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 7, MINNESOTA 2

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.300, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: D Moseley relieved J Speier.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: LA ANGELS 7
MINNESOTA 2 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T Hunter (.300, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA ANGELS 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 7 13 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 7 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS, JUSTIN SPEIER (8TH), DUSTIN MOSELEY (9TH) AND
MIKE NAPOLI

MIN - MATT GARZA, JUAN RINCON (6TH), DENNYS REYES
(7TH), MATT GUERRIER (7TH), RAMON ORTIZ (9TH) AND JOE MAUER

HOME RUNS: LAA - GARRET ANDERSON (4) OFF MATT GARZA IN THE 3RD, 0 ON

MIN - NONE</div>

 

Anderson, Saunders carry Angels past Twins

<h3>LA ANGELS 7, MINNESOTA 2</h3>MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Garret Anderson ended the Los AngelesAngels of Anaheim's home run drought and Joe Saunders made atriumphant return from Class AAA Salt Lake as the Angels toppedthe Minnesota Twins, 7-2, on Sunday.


Anderson lifted a solo shot to the upper deck in right field inthe third inning to give Los Angeles a 2-0 lead, ending a streakof 14 games (134 1/3 innings) without a home run.


It was the club's longest home run drought since afranchise-long 18-game streak from May 16-June 2, 1976.

Saunders (4-0) was called up on Sunday for his first start sinceJune 22. The lefthander gave up two runs on six hits with fivestrikeouts in seven innings to help end the Angels' two-gameskid and avoid a three-game sweep.


Twins rookie starter Matt Garza (1-2) allowed his first earnedruns of the season after going 15 innings without allowing one.He recording only one 1-2-3 inning in his 5 1/3 innings andabsorbed his second consecutive loss.


Garza gave up four runs - three earned - on seven hits withthree walks and three strikeouts. He walked home the first run.

Struggling early, Garza gave up a two-out single to Andersonbefore walking Casey Kotchman and Maicer Izturis to bring homeOrlando Cabrera, who also singled. Garza was once again avictim of Jason Bartlett's defense in the second inning - hiserror led to an unearned run in Garza's 1-0 loss to Detroit inhis last start - as the shortstop overthrew first base on NathanHayne's grounder and scored on Chone Figgins' single one batterlater.


Anderson homered with one out in the third inning - his fourthhome run of the year and first since June 9 at St. Louis.

Los Angeles walked home its second run of the game in the sixthinning, as reliever Juan Rincon walked Robb Quinlan - the firsthitter he faced in relief of Garza - to bring home Kotchman.Haynes just missed breaking the game open a batter later, liningout to Nick Punto, who doubled off Mike Napoli at second base.

It was more than enough help for Saunders, who extended hiscareer-best winning streak to six games dating to July 19, 2006(eight starts).


His only major trouble came in the third inning when he gave upthree straight singles to load the bases with no outs. Butafter Jeff Cirillo hit a sacrifice fly, Saunders induced adouble-play grounder from Joe Mauer to end the threat.

The Twins got a run back in the sixth inning on Justin Morneau'stwo-out single to score Cirillo from second. But the Angelsgot it back in the seventh inning when Kotchman plated Figginswith a sacrifice fly, and added another run in the eighth inningon back-to-back doubles from Napoli and Quinlan.

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA ANGELS 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 7 13 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 7 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: LAA - JOE SAUNDERS, JUSTIN SPEIER (8TH), DUSTIN MOSELEY (9TH) AND
MIKE NAPOLI

MIN - MATT GARZA, JUAN RINCON (6TH), DENNYS REYES
(7TH), MATT GUERRIER (7TH), RAMON ORTIZ (9TH) AND JOE MAUER


WP - JOE SAUNDERS (4-0)
LP - MATT GARZA (1-2)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: LAA - GARRET ANDERSON (4) OFF MATT GARZA IN THE 3RD, 0 ON

MIN - NONE


TIME: 2:56 ATT: 33,217

PROBABLES: MIN - JOHAN SANTANA (11-7, 2.65)
TOR - SHAUN MARCUM (5-4, 3.73)

PROBABLES: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN (8-5, 3.39)
LAA - BARTOLO COLON (6-5, 6.38)</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">LA ANGELS (7) VS MINNESOTA (2) - FINAL

LA ANGELS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Figgins 3b 5 1 2 1 0 0 0 .321
O Cabrera ss 5 1 2 0 0 1 2 .313
V Guerrero rf 5 1 1 0 0 2 3 .321
G Anderson dh 4 1 2 1 1 1 0 .301
C Kotchman 1b 3 1 2 2 1 0 2 .287
M Izturis 2b 4 0 1 1 1 0 3 .248
M Napoli c 4 1 1 0 1 2 4 .254
R Quinlan lf 3 0 1 2 1 0 0 .270
R Willits pr-lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301
N Haynes cf 4 1 1 0 0 1 4 .250

Totals 37 7 13 7 5 7 18

BATTING: 2B - M Napoli (11, M Guerrier); R Quinlan (7, M Guerrier); V Guerrero
(30, R Ortiz); C Kotchman (18, R Ortiz). HR - G Anderson (4, 3rd inning off M
Garza 0 on, 1 Out). SF - C Kotchman. RBI - M Izturis (18), C Figgins (31), G
Anderson (20), R Quinlan 2 (17), C Kotchman 2 (42). 2-out RBI - M Izturis.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Izturis 1, O Cabrera 1, M Napoli 3.
Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: SB - O Cabrera (11, 2nd base off D Reyes/J Mauer). CS - N Haynes
(1, 2nd base by M Garza/J Mauer).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Izturis-O Cabrera-C Kotchman).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264
J Cirillo dh 3 1 1 1 0 0 2 .275
J Mauer c 4 0 1 0 0 1 3 .305
J Morneau 1b 4 0 1 1 0 1 1 .291
T Hunter cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .299
J Kubel lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .251
D McDonald rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
L Rodriguez 3b 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 .188
N Punto 2b 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .214

Totals 32 2 7 2 1 6 10

BATTING: 2B - J Cirillo (8, J Saunders). SF - J Cirillo. RBI - J Cirillo (21),
J Morneau (82). 2-out RBI - J Morneau. GIDP - J Mauer. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: E - J Bartlett (19, throw). Outfield assists - D McDonald (C
Figgins at 2nd base). DP: 2 (D McDonald-J Bartlett-L Rodriguez, N Punto-J
Bartlett).


----------------------------------------------------
LA ANGELS - 111 001 111 -- 7
MINNESOTA - 001 001 000 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

LA ANGELS ip h r er bb so hr era
J Saunders (W, 4-0) 7 6 2 2 1 5 0 2.89
J Speier 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.77
D Moseley 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.35

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza (L, 1-2) 5 1/3 7 4 3 3 3 1 1.33
J Rincon 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 4.81
D Reyes 1/3 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.37
M Guerrier 1 1/3 2 1 1 0 2 0 1.71
R Ortiz 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 5.40

IBB - G Anderson (by D Reyes). Pitches-strikes: J Saunders 103-74; J Speier
10-8; D Moseley 16-9; M Garza 106-68; J Rincon 18-10; D Reyes 8-3; M Guerrier
25-15; R Ortiz 13-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J Saunders 11-5; J Speier 0-3; D
Moseley 2-0; M Garza 3-8; J Rincon 0-1; D Reyes 0-1; M Guerrier 2-0; R Ortiz
0-2. Batters faced: J Saunders 27; J Speier 4; D Moseley 3; M Garza 25; J
Rincon 5; D Reyes 2; M Guerrier 6; R Ortiz 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Greg Gibson. 1B--Larry Vanover. 2B--Tony Randazzo. 3B--Charlie
Reliford.

T--2:56. Att--33,217.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
LA ANGELS 7
MINNESOTA 2 FINAL</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LA ANGELS (7) AT MINNESOTA (2) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LA ANGELS 1ST: C Figgins flied out to center. O Cabrera singled to center.
V Guerrero popped out to second. G Anderson singled to center, O Cabrera to
second. C Kotchman walked, O Cabrera to third, G Anderson to second.
M Izturis walked, O Cabrera scored, G Anderson to third, C Kotchman to second.
M Napoli lined out to third. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 1, MINNESOTA 0.

LA ANGELS 2ND: R Quinlan flied out to left. N Haynes safe at second on
throwing error by shortstop J Bartlett. C Figgins singled to center, N Haynes
scored, C Figgins to second advancing on throw. O Cabrera flied into double
play, right to shortstop to third, C Figgins doubled off second.(1 Run, 1 Hit,
1 Error) LA ANGELS 2, MINNESOTA 0.

LA ANGELS 3RD: V Guerrero grounded out to second. G Anderson homered to
right. C Kotchman grounded out to second. M Izturis flied out to center.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 3, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 3RD: L Rodriguez singled to center. N Punto singled to center,
L Rodriguez to second. J Bartlett singled to left, L Rodriguez to third, N Punto
to second. J Cirillo hit sacrifice fly to right, L Rodriguez scored. J Mauer
grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Bartlett out at
second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 3, MINNESOTA 1.

LA ANGELS 6TH: G Anderson struck out swinging. C Kotchman singled to
right. M Izturis singled to right, C Kotchman to second. M Napoli walked,
C Kotchman to third, M Izturis to second. J Rincon relieved M Garza. R Quinlan
walked, C Kotchman scored, M Izturis to third, M Napoli to second. N Haynes
lined into double play, second to shortstop, M Napoli doubled off second.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 4, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 6TH: J Bartlett flied out to left. J Cirillo doubled to deep
left. J Mauer struck out looking. J Morneau singled to center, J Cirillo
scored. T Hunter grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA ANGELS 4, MINNESOTA 2.

LA ANGELS 7TH: C Figgins singled to center. O Cabrera singled to center,
C Figgins to third. V Guerrero struck out swinging. D Reyes relieved J Rincon.
O Cabrera stole second. G Anderson intentionally walked. C Kotchman hit
sacrifice fly to center, C Figgins scored. M Guerrier relieved D Reyes.
M Izturis grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 5,
MINNESOTA 2.

LA ANGELS 8TH: M Napoli doubled to deep left center. R Quinlan doubled to
deep right, M Napoli scored. R Willits ran for R Quinlan. N Haynes struck out
swinging. C Figgins grounded out to first, R Willits to third. O Cabrera
struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 6, MINNESOTA 2.

LA ANGELS 9TH: R Ortiz relieved M Guerrier. V Guerrero doubled to deep
center. G Anderson flied out to center, V Guerrero to third. C Kotchman
doubled to center, V Guerrero scored. M Izturis flied out to left. M Napoli
struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 7, MINNESOTA 2.</div>

 

AL: LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LA ANGELS (7) AT MINNESOTA (2) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

La Angels Starting Lineups -- C Figgins 3B, O Cabrera SS, V Guerrero RF,
G Anderson DH, C Kotchman 1B, M Izturis 2B, M Napoli C, R Quinlan LF, N Haynes CF,
J Saunders LHP.

Minnesota Starting Lineups -- J Bartlett SS, J Cirillo DH, J Mauer C, J Morneau 1B,
T Hunter CF, J Kubel LF, D McDonald RF, L Rodriguez 3B, N Punto 2B, M Garza RHP.

Umpires -- Greg Gibson (HP), Larry Vanover (1B), Tony Randazzo (2B),
Charlie Reliford (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


LA ANGELS 1ST: C Figgins flied out to center. O Cabrera singled to center.
V Guerrero popped out to second. G Anderson singled to center, O Cabrera to
second. C Kotchman walked, O Cabrera to third, G Anderson to second.
M Izturis walked, O Cabrera scored, G Anderson to third, C Kotchman to second.
M Napoli lined out to third. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 1, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 1ST: J Bartlett grounded out to second. J Cirillo popped out to
second. J Mauer flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 1,
MINNESOTA 0.

LA ANGELS 2ND: R Quinlan flied out to left. N Haynes safe at second on
throwing error by shortstop J Bartlett. C Figgins singled to center, N Haynes
scored, C Figgins to second advancing on throw. O Cabrera flied into double
play, right to shortstop to third, C Figgins doubled off second. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
1 Error) LA ANGELS 2, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 2ND: J Morneau struck out swinging. T Hunter singled to center.
J Kubel struck out looking. D McDonald grounded into fielder's choice to
third, T Hunter out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 2,
MINNESOTA 0.

LA ANGELS 3RD: V Guerrero grounded out to second. G Anderson homered to
right. C Kotchman grounded out to second. M Izturis flied out to center.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 3, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 3RD: L Rodriguez singled to center. N Punto singled to center,
L Rodriguez to second. J Bartlett singled to left, L Rodriguez to third, N Punto
to second. J Cirillo hit sacrifice fly to right, L Rodriguez scored. J Mauer
grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Bartlett out at
second.(1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 3, MINNESOTA 1.

LA ANGELS 4TH: M Napoli struck out swinging. R Quinlan fouled out to
first. N Haynes singled to right. N Haynes caught stealing second, catcher
to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 3, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 4TH: J Morneau grounded out to first. T Hunter struck out
swinging. J Kubel grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA ANGELS 3, MINNESOTA 1.

LA ANGELS 5TH: C Figgins flied out to center. O Cabrera grounded out
to pitcher. V Guerrero struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA ANGELS 3, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 5TH: D McDonald grounded out to shortstop. L Rodriguez grounded
out to shortstop. N Punto struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA ANGELS 3, MINNESOTA 1.

LA ANGELS 6TH: G Anderson struck out swinging. C Kotchman singled to
right. M Izturis singled to right, C Kotchman to second. M Napoli walked,
C Kotchman to third, M Izturis to second. J Rincon relieved M Garza. R Quinlan
walked, C Kotchman scored, M Izturis to third, M Napoli to second. N Haynes
lined into double play, second to shortstop, M Napoli doubled off second.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 4, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 6TH: J Bartlett flied out to left. J Cirillo doubled to deep
left. J Mauer struck out looking. J Morneau singled to center, J Cirillo
scored. T Hunter grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA ANGELS 4, MINNESOTA 2.

LA ANGELS 7TH: C Figgins singled to center. O Cabrera singled to center,
C Figgins to third. V Guerrero struck out swinging. D Reyes relieved J Rincon.
O Cabrera stole second. G Anderson intentionally walked. C Kotchman hit
sacrifice fly to center, C Figgins scored. M Guerrier relieved D Reyes.
M Izturis grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 5,
MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 7TH: J Kubel grounded out to third. D McDonald grounded out to
first. L Rodriguez walked. N Punto fouled out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) LA ANGELS 5, MINNESOTA 2.

LA ANGELS 8TH: M Napoli doubled to deep left center. R Quinlan doubled to
deep right, M Napoli scored. R Willits ran for R Quinlan. N Haynes struck out
swinging. C Figgins grounded out to first, R Willits to third. O Cabrera
struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 6, MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 8TH: R Willits in left field. J Speier relieved J Saunders.
J Bartlett flied out to left. J Cirillo lined out to left. J Mauer singled to
center. J Morneau flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 6,
MINNESOTA 2.

LA ANGELS 9TH: R Ortiz relieved M Guerrier. V Guerrero doubled to deep
center. G Anderson flied out to center, V Guerrero to third. C Kotchman
doubled to center, V Guerrero scored. M Izturis flied out to left. M Napoli
struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 7, MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 9TH: D Moseley relieved J Speier. T Hunter grounded out to third.
J Kubel grounded out to second. D McDonald struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA ANGELS 7, MINNESOTA 2.</div>

 

Anderson, Saunders carry Angels past Twins

<h3>LA ANGELS 7, MINNESOTA 2</h3>MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Garret Anderson ended the Los AngelesAngels of Anaheim's home run drought and Joe Saunders made atriumphant return from Class AAA Salt Lake as the Angels toppedthe Minnesota Twins, 7-2, on Sunday.


Anderson lifted a solo shot to the upper deck in right field inthe third inning to give Los Angeles a 2-0 lead, ending a streakof 14 games (134 1/3 innings) without a home run.


It was the club's longest home run drought since afranchise-long 18-game streak from May 16-June 2, 1976.

Saunders (4-0) was called up on Sunday for his first start sinceJune 22. The lefthander gave up two runs on six hits with fivestrikeouts in seven innings to help end the Angels' two-gameskid and avoid a three-game sweep.


"It's nice because we were, I wouldn't say struggling, but I'dsay not really hot," Saunders said. "It's nice to get back ontrack, get a win - you never want to get swept."


Twins rookie starter Matt Garza (1-2) allowed his first earnedruns of the season after going 15 innings without allowing one.He recording only one 1-2-3 inning in his 5 1/3 innings andabsorbed his second consecutive loss.


Garza gave up four runs - three earned - on seven hits withthree walks and three strikeouts. He walked home the first run.

"It seemed like forever out there the first couple innings,"Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "But he settled downafter that and didn't give up too much."


Struggling early, Garza gave up a two-out single to Andersonbefore walking Casey Kotchman and Maicer Izturis to bring homeOrlando Cabrera, who also singled. Garza was once again avictim of Jason Bartlett's defense in the second inning - hiserror led to an unearned run in Garza's 1-0 loss to Detroit inhis last start - as the shortstop overthrew first base on NathanHaynes' grounder and scored on Chone Figgins' single one batterlater.


Anderson homered with one out in the third inning - his fourthhome run of the year and first since June 9 at St. Louis.

"To be honest, it doesn't mean anything," Anderson said."Nobody's going to remember it, nobody's going to care."

Los Angeles walked home its second run of the game in the sixthinning, as reliever Juan Rincon walked Robb Quinlan - the firsthitter he faced in relief of Garza - to bring home Kotchman.Haynes just missed breaking the game open a batter later, liningout to Nick Punto, who doubled off Mike Napoli at second base.

It was more than enough help for Saunders, who extended hiscareer-best winning streak to six games dating to July 19, 2006(eight starts).


His only major trouble came in the third inning when he gave upthree straight singles to load the bases with no outs. Butafter Jeff Cirillo hit a sacrifice fly, Saunders induced adouble-play grounder from Joe Mauer to end the threat.

"He made some good pitches after loading the bases," Angelsmanager Mike Scioscia said. "With Mauer and (Justin) Morneaucoming up - I don't care if its a lefthanded pitcher or anybody- those guys are about as tough of a middle lineup as their isin our league and we got the double-play ball we were able toturn."


"I made a good pitch and they made a good play for me," Saunderssaid. "Got me out of a jam."


The Twins got a run back in the sixth inning on Morneau'stwo-out single to score Cirillo from second. But the Angels gotit back in the seventh inning when Kotchman plated Figgins witha sacrifice fly, and added another run in the eighth inning onback-to-back doubles from Napoli and Quinlan.


The Angels scored a run in all but two innings and recorded 13hits - their highest total on the road trip.


"We applied pressure to them for most of the game," Andersonsaid. "We capitalized and moved runners along without wastingtoo many outs. It was a good all-around effort."


The usually solid Minnesota bullpen allowed three runs in 3 2/3innings overall, with Juan Rincon, Matt Guerrier and Ramon Ortizeach giving up one. The bullpen had allowed just one run inits previous seven games (15 1/3 innings) and posted a 0.59 ERA.