Blue Jays
Angels
3 - 2 Final
  for this game

Nix homers to help Blue Jays down Angels

Apr 9, 2011 - 5:19 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Jayson Nix's eighth-inning homer provided the decisive run, as the Toronto Blue Jays edged the Angels, 3-2, to begin a three-game series and spoil Los Angeles' home opener.

Adam Lind added a two-run double for the Blue Jays, who have won series against Minnesota and Oakland to open the season.

Ervin Santana (0-1) struck out seven in eight innings, but took the loss after allowing all three runs, six hits and a walk. Torii Hunter went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Los Angeles, which had won its last two.

Toronto starter Kyle Drabek pitched six innings and allowed two runs -- both of which he gave up early in the game.

The rookie walked two in the first inning, including leadoff batter Maicer Izturis, who was caught stealing for the second out. But after Drabek walked Bobby Abreu, Hunter singled to right and a throwing error by Jose Bautista allowed Abreu to cross the plate.

In the third, Drabek walked Izturis with one away and Howie Kendrick followed with a single. Hunter later singled to make it a 2-0 contest.

But the Blue Jays tied the game in the sixth, when Lind doubled to center with runners on the corners and two away.

Octavio Dotel (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh for the Jays, and Nix stepped to the plate with two down in the eighth. He took two fastballs off the plate before getting one down the center and about belt-high, slamming it to left to put Toronto ahead.

"I had a favorable count and got a heater over the middle and got the barrel on it," Nix said.

David Purcey walked Abreu to start the home eighth, but Shawn Camp came in and got Hunter to ground into a double play and Vernon Wells to fly out. Jon Rauch worked around a two-out single in the ninth to record his second save.

Game Notes

The Angels have lost their home opener only twice in the last eight seasons...Drabek finished allowing six hits, four walks and had five strikeouts...LA won six of the nine meetings last season...Matt Palmer will start Saturday's game for the Angels in place of Scott Kazmir, who was placed on the disabled list with tightness in his lower back.






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