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Six-run seventh leads Angels past Astros

Jun 21, 2007 - 7:15 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Once Wandy Rodriguez was out of the game, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim put on their walking shoes and brought their bats to the plate.

Vladimir Guerrero blasted a three-run homer to cap a six-run seventh inning - which included four walks - and lead the Angels to an 8-4 win over the Houston Astros.

Held in check by Rodriguez for most of the game, Anaheim wasted little time capitalizing on the wildness of Houston's bullpen.

"We definitely had some great at-bats in that inning," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We had some good 3-2 counts to get some walks and laid off some good pitches which certainly set the table."

The 28-year-old Rodriguez had retired 12 of the last 13 batters he faced leading into the top of the seventh and retired Robb Quinlan on a grounder to open the frame before Howie Kendrick reached on Eric Bruntlett's throwing error.

"(Rodriquez) threw well all night and wasn't afraid to pitch inside," said Angels left fielder Reggie Willits, who drew a walk during the rally. "We were able to get on base and make him change his approach right there and we were able to get the big hit when we needed it."

Rodriguez was removed after walking Mike Napoli, leaving righthanded reliever Dave Borkowski (1-2) to work his way out of the jam.

Borkowski walked the next three hitters, forcing in two runs to tie the game at 4-4. Orlando Cabrera followed by lifting a sacrifice fly to left, scoring rookie Terry Evans from third base to give Anaheim its first lead, 5-4.

"Plate discipline has been important to us in that last 4-6 weeks," Scioscia said. "If you look at our on-base percentage and the runs, it definitely points to what Reggie (Willits), Orlando (Cabrera), (Mike) Napoli and all our guys have been doing."

Guerrero belted Borkowski's 1-0 offering over the wall in left to give the Angels a four-run cushion. It was the slugger's 13th homer of the season and first since June 3.

"Sometimes I'm going to go through some dry spells, but (the team) is not only counting on me, we're counting on everybody," Guerrero said through an interpreter. "We're playing good because those guys keep doing a good job at the top of the order taking the walks, get the infield hits and just getting on base."

Hector Carrasco (2-1) and Scot Shields finished up the seventh and the eighth and Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation for the Angels.

"I don't know if there's a better back end of the bullpen right now than Scot and Frankie," Scioscia said. "They've been incredible the past couple years and they've been on the money this year."

Rodriguez ended up with a no-decision, allowing four runs - three earned - and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. The lefthander issued just one walk and struck out two.

The big seventh inning got Anaheim starter Ervin Santana off the hook. The 24-year-old righthander had his worst home start of the season, yielding four runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings.

He entered Wednesday's contest with a 4-1 record and a 2.41 ERA in six previous home starts.

"We had a little problem getting the ball into the zone against those guys," Scioscia said. "Ervin settled down after the first couple innings and kept us in the ball game."

The bright spot for the Astros was rookie Hunter Pence, who clubbed three hits, including a solo homer, and drove in three runs. The 24-year-old center fielder has had three-hit games in three of his last four starts.

"Those guys outplayed us and we were fortunate to come away with the win in the first game and again tonight," Scioscia said. "Our pitching got better as the series went on and better as this game went on."

Pence put the Astros on the board in the first with a solo homer off Santana and added RBI singles in both the second and the fourth.

All-Star Lance Berkman added an RBI single for Houston.