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Guerrero's walk-off homer beats Orioles

Jun 3, 2007 - 11:52 PM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Vladimir Guerrero ruined an excellent outing by Jeremy Guthrie.

Guerrero hit a walk-off home run to lift the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to their third straight win, a 4-3 triumph over the Baltimore Orioles Sunday in the finale of a four-game series.

Chris Ray (3-3) entered the game in the ninth with a 3-2 lead and gave up a lead-off single to Chone Figgins. Then, Guerrero took Ray's 1-1 offering over the wall in center for his 350th career home run and the ninth walk-off.

"I left a fastball to Figgins out over the plate and then I hung a slider to Guerrero," Ray said. "My biggest concern is to close out games and win it for the team, but just couldn't get the job done today."

Guthrie has pitched well since being moved into the Orioles starting rotation, having not lost in his last six starts while pitching at least six innings in every outing.

"He (Guthrie) has turned into a darn good starter for us after being the long man in the bullpen," Orioles manager Sam Perlazzo said. "He has been a big boost for our club with the way he has been pitching lately and he doesn't deserve to lose the game with how he pitched."

On Sunday, the righthander allowed just two runs - one earned - and three hits over eight innings. The four-year veteran struck out four and did not walk a batter.

"My fastball location was good today and I got a lot of ground balls," Guthrie said. "We played the game how it's suppose to be played which is give the ball to your closer in the ninth and it just didn't work out for us today."

Baltimore took a 2-1 lead in the fourth, when Melvin Mora sent Angels starter Ervin Santana's full-count offering over the center field wall.

"I got a pitch out over the plate and hit it hard and got enough on it for a home run," Mora said. "I didn't think that run was going to hold up for a long time cause I know they have a good offense over there."

The Orioles extended their lead in the sixth when Jay Payton's single drove in Miguel Tejada.