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Escobar, Guerrero help Angels crush Pirates

Jun 24, 2007 - 6:22 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Kelvim Escobar tossed eight stellar innings and Vladimir Guerrero homered as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim rolled to a 10-1 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.

In his first career start against Pittsburgh, Escobar (9-3) scattered one run and five hits with four strikeouts to pick up his fifth victory in his last seven trips to the hill.

Escobar was en route to his third shutout win of the season until Xavier Nady doubled and scored on Ronny Paulino's RBI single in the seventh.

"(Escobar) just kept us off-balance all game," Nady said. "We knew that they had a lot of good pitchers and it showed."

Pittsburgh then loaded the bases but Escobar got Chris Duffy to hit into the inning-ending double play.

"That was a big part of the game," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "A hit in that situation would have made me go to our bullpen."

Anaheim got to starter Ian Snell (6-5) in the second inning as Guerrero and Gary Matthews Jr. both had base hits and scored when Howie Kendrick roped a two-run double to center for a 2-0 edge.

"I just didn't have my best stuff," Snell said. "I was trying to be too careful against those guys."

After Kendry Morales singled, Shea Hillenbrand plated Kendrick on a fielder's choice. Mike Napoli then walked before Reggie Willits and Chone Figgins hit back-to-back run-scoring singles to cap the five-run uprising.

"I just got a pitch I liked and hit it," Willits said. "We played a good all-around game today and just hope we can come out here (Sunday) and steal another win."

The Angels continued to pour it on as Hillenbrand hit an RBI single in the seventh, Guerrero delivered a two-run blast - his 14th - and Morales added a run-scoring double one inning later off Pittsburgh reliever Tony Armas.

"(Guerrero's) just amazing," Escobar said. "Vlad is just a guy that we always seem to count on when the game is on the line and he always gets that hit we need."

Snell was pounded for a season-high five runs and 10 hits in six frames, falling to a disappointing 1-3 in eight road games this season.

"He (Snell) just didn't have his best stuff," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said.

The Pirates' offense has been lackluster during this current nine-game road trip, getting outscored, 25-5, through the first five contests. Pittsburgh is an eye-popping 0-21 when scoring less than three runs.