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Padres edge Angels

May 20, 2012 - 6:47 AM San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Alexi Amarista hit a go-ahead RBI double in the seventh inning and the Padres defeated the Angels, 3-2, on Saturday.

Amarista went 2-for-2 and scored twice while Cameron Maybin drove in two for San Diego, which had lost two in a row, including the opener of this three- game interleague series on Friday.

Starter Eric Stults allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings and Luke Gregerson (1-0) recorded the final out of the seventh, stranding a runner on second base to earn the win.

"My goal was to come in and give quality start," said Stults. "I know (the Padres) have had the injury bug so they needed somebody to come in and throw some innings."

Erick Aybar knocked in a run and finished a homer shy of the cycle for the Angels, who had won three of four entering Saturday.

Dan Haren (1-5) allowed three runs on six hits over 6 2/3 innings in the loss. He struck out five, walked one and has dropped four straight starts.

The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the second when Howie Kendrick walked to start the inning and Aybar followed two batters later with a triple into the gap in left-center.

Amarista led off the third inning with a single and relied on his speed to round the bases. Stults followed with a bunt and catcher John Hester went to second base with the throw, which Amarista beat with a head-first slide. Consecutive fly balls by Will Venable and Maybin allowed the second baseman to come home with the tying run.

The game was still tied after the teams traded a run in the fifth.

Aybar began the inning with a double before moving to second on a walk and to third on a Haren's sac bunt. He crossed the plate on Mike Trout's groundout.

Amarista again manufactured a run in the bottom half. He drew a leadoff walk and advanced on Stults' bunt before taking third on a wild pitch. Maybin then delivered a two-out, game-tying single up the middle.

The Angels went on top for good in the seventh when Nick Hundley singled, moved up on a sac bunt and scored on Amarista's two-bagger down the left-field line.

Dale Thayer locked up his fifth save by striking out Ryan Langerhans with Aybar on third to end the game.

"Those guys were throwing the ball well," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "You're not always gonna come back late but we had some opportunities."

Game Notes

Stults was claimed off waivers from the White Sox on Thursday. He started in place of Tim Stauffer, who landed on the disabled list Friday with a sprained right elbow...The Angels fell to 1-19 on the season when scoring three or fewer runs...The Padres placed outfielder Mark Kotsay on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a lower back strain. He has not played since leaving last Saturday's win over the Phillies due to tightness in his lower back. San Diego recalled outfielder Blake Tekotte from Triple-A Tucson to fill the vacated roster spot.