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Saunders helps Angels split with Boston

Aug 19, 2007 - 11:09 PM By Mike Petraglia PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BOSTON (Ticker) - Joe Saunders made sure the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim finished their road trip on a winning note on Sunday.

The lefthander won for the seventh time in eight decisions and the Angels earned a split of their four-game weekend series in Boston with a 3-1 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

The Angels finished their two-city, seven-game trip with a 3-4 mark while the Red Sox still won the season series between two of the three American League division leaders, 6-4.

"You're going to have tough games," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I don't think we're expecting anything different. We've got whatever it is, (39 games) left and every day is going to be a tough game so you have to be ready for it. These guys have held up well in pennant races before."

Saunders (7-1) gave up just one run on six hits over 7 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out seven.

"This game was like a must-win for us," Saunders said. "I think we needed to split with them here - and we had problems with them here at the beginning of the year. They play really well here so we just needed to get a win any way we could."

The Red Sox (74-50) saw their lead in the American League East drop to four games over the New York Yankees (70-54).

The Angels appeared ready to blow open the game in the first inning against Boston starter Julian Tavarez when Vladimir Guerrero continued his torrid weekend with an RBI single to left, scoring Chone Figgins.

After Orlando Cabrera moved to third on Garret Anderson's fly to center, he scored on a fielder's choice groundout by Gary Matthews Jr.

Some spectacular defense by a Red Sox newcomer kept the deficit at two runs.

Casey Kotchman connected on a drive to deep right that Bobby Kielty, starting for J.D. Drew, caught at the wall for the third out. Kielty banged his right side into the low wall and appeared momentarily shaken but remained in the game and collected two hits.

"That was a great catch and saved us two runs," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "And when we're trying to limit damage early, it allowed Julian to kinda collect himself and then give us six pretty strong innings."

The home run-saving appeared to inspire Tavarez (6-9), who did not allow another hit the rest of the day and retired the final 11 batters he faced. The righthander, filling in as a spot starter, allowed two hits and two runs over six innings.

Tavarez did show some frustration in the third inning when he threw an inside pitch that grazed Cabrera's uniform. Tavarez had accused Cabrera of trying to steal signs and pitch location when the teams met last week in Anaheim, threatening to him when he faced him again.

"We've always had great competition," Scioscia said. "Tavarez said something to Orlando in Anaheim that he was going to hit him because there was some sign-stealing going on, which is ludicrous. Then he hit him today, so that's disturbing, and we'll let the league handle it."

Cabrera and Tavarez exchanged words and the benches and bullpens emptied but no punches were thrown. Both pitchers were warned and there were no other incidents in the game.

It was Saunders' first start since suffering his first loss of the season last Tuesday while his 7 2/3 innings matched a career high.

"Joe pitched a terrific game," Scioscia said. "I don't think you could pitch much better against that group of guys. They've got a deep lineup that's not going to give an inch. Every pitch, you have to work for and he did. He kept repeating pitches, making pitches. I think he had contact today on his terms, which is what he's all about.

"He's a tall lefty and there's a definite difference between his two-seamer and his four-seamer and he's a got a good changeup, good curveball," Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell added. "He throws harder than most lefties, he's got velocity on his side and has pretty good movement. I think pitching in the day, being a tall lefty, doesn't hurt here at Fenway, with that backdrop."

The Red Sox mounted a threat in the eighth when David Ortiz reached on an infield single with two outs. Scot Shields was called on to face Manny Ramirez, who walked. Lowell followed with a single off the "Green Monster" to score Ortiz from second.

Scioscia went to his bullpen again, this time with better results when Justin Speier struck out Drew as a pinch-hitter on a called third strike.

Francisco Rodriguez struck out two in a perfect ninth, registering his 31st save in 35 chances.

Angels second baseman Erick Aybar left the game in the middle of the sixth with a strained left hamstring and is day-to-day.