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Angels erase early five-run deficit, top Rangers

Fri 30th, July 2010

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Juan Rivera had two hits, including a three-run homer, and the Los Angeles Angels overcame an early five-run deficit to beat the rival Texas Rangers, 9-7, in the start of a crucial intradivisional weekend set at Angel Stadium.

Rivera drove in four runs total for the Angels, who still trail the AL West- leading Rangers by eight games after snapping a four-game losing streak. Erick Aybar also homered and drove in two runs, while Alberto Callaspo went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.

Ervin Santana (10-7) was the beneficiary of the support, getting the win despite allowing seven runs -- four earned -- on 10 hits and two walks in six innings. Brian Fuentes notched his 19th save.

"I felt like I had no command and no concentration, and I still came away with a win," Santana said. "Credit my teammates, offensively and defensively. That's a tough lineup, and I just tried to focus and get guys out."

Nelson Cruz belted a solo homer, while Vladimir Guerrero and David Murphy each drove in a pair of runs for the Rangers, who have dropped two of three. Elvis Andrus went 4-for-5 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored in defeat.

Tommy Hunter (8-1) dropped his first decision of the season, giving up eight runs, eight hits and a walk in three-plus frames.

"Tommy wasn't able to hit his spots," said Rangers manager Ron Washington. "He had trouble with his command. I wasn't expecting three innings out of him. We played well enough to win that game, but we couldn't stop them."

Trailing, 7-4, entering the fourth, the Angels continued the high-scoring affair with four more runs.

Three consecutive singles from Callaspo, Howie Kendrick and Rivera to open the inning produced a run, and Mike Napoli followed with an RBI ground-rule double to cut the deficit to one.

Matt Harrison relieved Hunter and immediately yielded a game-tying sacrifice fly to Aybar and a go-ahead RBI single to Maicer Izturis before getting out of the inning.

The Angels tacked on an insurance run in the sixth on Bobby Abreu's RBI double with two outs.

Trevor Bell, Fernando Rodney and Fuentes combined to shut down Texas the rest of the way -- pitching a scoreless inning apiece -- to lock up the win for Los Angeles.

The Rangers struck first with three runs in the opening inning. The first two batters reached base, with an error putting them on second and third. Josh Hamilton followed with a run-scoring double before Murphy plated two more with a two-out single to center.

Texas increased its lead to five on Guerrero's two-run single in the second, but the Angels rallied back.

Rivera's three-run shot, which was followed by Aybar's solo blast two batters later, got Los Angeles to within 5-4 in the second inning, although the Rangers went back ahead by two on Andrus' RBI single in the third.

Cruz's solo home run in the fourth gave the Rangers a 7-4 advantage.

Game Notes

Infielder Jorge Cantu, who was acquired by Texas in a trade with Florida on Thursday, did not start. He pinch-hit with two outs in the ninth and flied out...Cruz extended his hit streak to 18 games...The Rangers still lead the season series, 6-4...Hamilton left late in the game with an undisclosed injury.