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Aybar plates winner as Angels complete sweep

Jun 25, 2007 - 12:00 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Erick Aybar delivered a walk-off hit in the 10th inning as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim completed a three-game sweep with a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.

After Francisco Rodriguez blew a save in the ninth inning, Howie Kendrick led off the 10th with a double off Matt Capps (3-4) that bounced off the wall in left-center field. After an intentional walk to Kendry Morales and a first-pitch flyout to left by Gary Matthews, Jr., Aybar lined a shot that bounced off the right field wall to easily plate Kendrick.

The hit made a winner of Chris Bootcheck (2-1), who pitched a scoreless 11th and allowed the Angels (49-27) to continue their best start in franchise history.

"There is just no quit in this team," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "The guys could have had the air taken out of them after they tied the game up off Franky (Rodriguez), but they just bounced right back."

But before they did, Xavier Nady's two-out line single to left field in the ninth inning off Rodriguez plated rookie Rajai Davis with the tying run. It was Rodriguez's second blown save of the season in 24 attempts.

"I saw that he was struggling with his control so I was just looking for a pitch that I can handle," Nady said. "It was big for us to get a run off him (Rodriguez), because we know he's one of the best in the game."

That spoiled a strong start by Anaheim starter Bartolo Colon, who yielded two runs and seven hits in six innings and pitched out of a bases-loaded jam.

"I felt good all game," Colon said through an interpreter. "I got into some trouble but made a big pitch to get me out of it. I did what I had to do to keep our team in the game and give us a good chance to get a win."

Colon was cruising with a 2-0 lead until the Pirates loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth and halved the deficit when Adam LaRoche drew a one-out walk. But Nady followed with a double play to end the threat. In the next frame, Jose Castillo hit a two-out double and Wilson singled him home to close the deficit to 3-2.

"Bart (Colon) did a great job allowing only one run on the board after loading the bases with no out," Scioscia said. "He made a very big pitch to a good hitter (Nady) to bail us out of that jam."

The Angels got to the Pirates young lefthander Tom Gorzelanny (7-5) in the fourth frame to open the scoring. After a single by Robb Quinlan and a ground-rule double by Kendrick, Jose Molina singled to center, plating both for a 2-0 edge. A sacrifice fly by Vladimir Guerrero made it 3-1 with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

"He (Gorzelanny) did everything we could have asked from him today," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said. "Gave us quality innings against a hot-hitting baseball team, but we just didn't have enough to pull out a win."

Gorzelanny pitched six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits.

"I felt like I pitched a good game, but missed location on a couple pitches," Gorzelanny said. "It's hard to make mistakes against a lineup like theirs because they have so many guys that can hurt you."