• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Herrera's single lifts Rockies over Angels in 11

Jun 26, 2010 - 7:30 AM ANAHEIM, Calif.(AP) -- After striking out in his first three at-bats, Jonathan Herrera figured it was only a matter of time before he'd break out of his mini-slump.

His perseverance exemplified that of the Rockies teammates, who didn't arrive in Los Angeles until about 3 a.m. Friday morning.

Herrera's RBI single in the 11th inning lifted the Colorado Rockies to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.

"For a young kid to handle himself in the manner in which he did with the way this game started and to finish in the manner in which he did, not enough can be said about the job that was done late," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said.

Herrera went 3 for 6, extended his hitting streak to seven games.

Carlos Gonzalez tied it at 3 when he singled home Herrera in the eighth, ending a streak of 27 straight saves at home for Angels closer Fernando Rodney.

"I start the game with three strikeouts, but I never give up, never put my head down," Herrera said. "I was waiting for my other at-bats, I do my best and that was the result."

Matt Belisle (3-3) pitched 2 2-3 innings of scoreless relief, and Manny Corpas earned his 10th save.

Chris Iannetta doubled with two outs against Francisco Rodriguez (0-1), and Melvin Mora walked before Herrera singled to left on a full count.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said his confidence wasn't shaken in Rodriguez.

"We know Francisco is an important part of our bullpen," Scioscia said. "He didn't get it done, but he'll be back out there tomorrow if his role is up again."

Bobby Abreu led off the bottom of the 11th with a single and stole second before Juan Rivera walked, but Mike Napoli hit into a fielder's choice and Jeff Mathis grounded out with Abreu on third to end it.

Reggie Willits singled to put the Angels up 3-2 in the seventh, and Rodney started the eighth. Brian Fuentes pitched a perfect ninth to keep it tied.

Both teams were coming off tough losses, with the Angels dropping a game to the Dodgers and the Rockies losing an extra-innings night game to Boston.

"It didn't look pretty, but we got the job done," Iannetta said. "It's been a long 48 hours, or maybe 24.

"It was hard, it looks like they were struggling fatigue was too so it looked like on both sides we were a little tired.

Rockies starter Jeff Francis allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings, but missed a chance to tie Pedro Astacio for third on the team's career wins list with 53.

"Francis was doing a really good job of changing speeds, using his sinker, staying down forcing contact," catcher Iannetta said.

Jered Weaver struck out 11 for the second game in a row, allowing two runs and five hits in seven innings. Weaver leads the American League with 118 strikeouts.

Iannetta hit a two-run homer off Weaver in the fifth.

Rockies right fielder Brad Hawpe bruised his ribs after running into the wall while trying to catch leadoff hitter Howie Kendrick's foul ball in the first inning. Ryan Spilborghs replaced Hawpe in the bottom of the second.

Notes: Mathis put the Angels up 1-0 with a sacrifice fly in the second. ... Hawpe was listed as day-to-day. ... Angels SS Eric Aybar pinch-hit for Brandon Wood in the seventh inning after being sidelined since June 14 with a hyperextended left knee. Aybar will start against the Rockies on Saturday, manager Mike Scioscia said. ... Willits started in place of Torii Hunter at CF. Hunter moved to DH and Hideki Matsui had the day off.