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Figgins, Angels rock Robertson, win slugfest

Jul 28, 2007 - 7:20 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- In a game filled with great hitters, Chone Figgins stood out.

Figgins went 4-for-4 with an RBI and Gary Matthews Jr. snapped an 0-for-19 skid with three hits and three RBI as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim posted an 11-6 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday.

"It seems like we keep waiting for some guys to turn the corner and it's almost like (Figgins) is always out in front saying, 'Follow me' because he has not missed a beat," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Figgins spearheaded Anaheim's offensive display, which overshadowed a great effort from Placido Polanco, who went 5-for-5, tying his career high in hits and finishing a triple shy of the cycle.

The Tigers (.290) and Angels (.283) entered the game first and second in the majors' in team average, but it was Mike Scioscia's club that had the upperhand in a game that featured 17 runs and 28 hits.

"Both teams had a lot of hits," Scioscia said. "Fortunately for us we did great with runners in scoring position and we were able to get some outs with guys on base for them."

"We just kept scoring runs and putting runners on base," Figgins said. "It ended up being a good ball game for us."

Meanwhile, Jeremy Robertson (6-8), who was rocked for five runs and 11 hits in six innings against Kansas City on Sunday, bore the brunt of the onslaught in a six-run first inning.

Figgins, Robb Quinlan, Matthews and Garret Anderson all drove in runs as the Angels sent 12 men to the plate against Robertson, who was rocked for eight runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings to fall to 2-2 since coming off the disabled list on June 26.

The night started out bad and got worse for the lefthander. After being spotted a 2-0 lead, Robertson hit rookie Reggie Willits and nine of the next 11 batters reached in the six-run frame.

Figgins followed with an RBI double to left field and two batters later Quinlan singled home a run and Matthews plated a run with a double to center to make the score 3-0.

"We scored 11 runs without a home run," Scioscia said. "We ran the bases well, were on base every inning and we able to pressure him."

Anderson then padded the lead with a single and after a throwing error by third baseman Brandon Inge allowed another run to cross, Maicer Izturis hit an RBI double to cap the outburst and make the score 6-2.

Matthews and Vladimir Guerrero extended the lead to 8-2 with RBI singles in the second.

However, the Tigers' offense was not to be outdone. Detroit rallied for five runs in the next three innings and Robertson settled down.

Curtis Granderson homered in the fourth to cut the lead to 6-3 and Sean Casey and Craig Monroe each drove in runs with singles in the fifth off Jered Weaver to make it 8-5.

"You have to look at their lineup. The have some guys that can swing it," Figgins said. "They're always in every ball game."

Robertson kept the Angels at bay, retiring eight of the next nine hitters he faced before allowing a double to Figgins and being relieved by Chad Durbin in the sixth.

However, Los Angeles held the lead and helped Weaver (7-5) pick up his first win in five starts despite a sub-par effort. The 24-year-old righthander won for the first time since June 16, but allowed six runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings.

"Jered got us to a certain point in the game even though his line score doesn't look great," Scioscia said. "He did make some pitches, especially with runners in scoring position."

Weaver got a boost from Matthews, who robbed Granderson of a potential grand slam in the first inning with a leaping catch a the left-center field wall.

"The catch pretty much pumped up the whole team, it got us rolling," Weaver said. "If Gary doesn't make that play, it's a whole different ball game."