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Escobar helps Angels complete sweep of Dodgers

May 20, 2007 - 11:49 PM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim would like to host the Los Angeles Dodgers more often.

Kelvim Escobar pitched eight scoreless innings as the Angels defeated the Dodgers, 4-1, to complete a three-game series sweep on the first weekend of interleague play.

Vladimir Guerrero had two hits and an RBI for the Angels, who improved to 14-3 in their last 17 games against the Dodgers at Angel Stadium.

"I'm very happy with the way I pitched especially after my last outing," Escobar said. "It was just one of those games where all of my pitches were working for me."

Escobar (5-2) scattered three hits, walked two, hit a batter and struck out five en route to the win. The 31-year-old righthander threw 107 pitches through eight innings.

Scot Shields and Francisco Rodriguez, who earned his 13th save of the year, combined to pitch the ninth.

Guerrero helped the Angels pad a 1-0 lead with three runs in the fifth inning.

Erick Aybar singled off starter Derek Lowe (4-5) to lead off the inning and advanced to third when Jose Molina followed with a single. However Aybar was cut down at home on a fielder's choice grounder by Tommy Murphy.

Lowe appeared to be on his way to escaping the jam after striking out Reggie Willits for the second out, but Orlando Cabrera extended the frame when he loaded the bases with an infield single.

"I just go out there and play my game," said Cabrera, who extended his hitting streak to 10 games. "If I get balls to drop for hits then that's good, but as long as we win that's all that matters."

Guerrero then came up with a clutch single to score Molina and a throwing error by shortstop Rafael Furcal allowed Murphy to come home. Gary Matthews followed with an RBI base hit to push the lead to 4-0.

"(Guerrero) came through big for us with that hit to give me a little more of a cushion to work with," Escobar said. "He is just a player that a lot of teams wish they had."

Guerrero also played a role in the Angels' first tally of the game in the first inning.

The slugger doubled with two outs and advanced to third when Matthews reached on a fielding error by third baseman Wilson Betemit. Casey Kotchman, who had two hits in the game including his third triple, singled to score Guerrero.

"Nothing surprises me with Vlad anymore, because I have seen him come up with big hit after big hit," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Lowe allowed four runs - three earned - and nine hits in eight innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out six.

"I got myself into tough spots and got out of some trouble," Lowe said. "I was locating my pitches where I wanted to but it just seemed like they were finding holes."

Jeff Kent had a two-out, RBI double off Shields in the ninth to account for the Dodgers' only run.

"We wanted to get (Shields) in there so he could get a couple outs and he almost got through the whole inning," Scioscia said. "I figured it was time to put (Rodriguez) in to close out the game."