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Guerrero, Angels rally against Gagne to earn split

Aug 18, 2007 - 5:09 AM By Mike Petraglia PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BOSTON (Ticker) - Vladimir Guerrero single-handedly rescued the Los Angeles Angels Friday night.

One inning after watching David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez come up with clutch hits to stake the Red Sox to a one-run, eighth-inning lead, Guerrero connected for a two-run, go-ahead double as the Angels escaped with a 7-5 victory and give the Angels a split of the day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park.

"A lot's been said about maybe him not hitting the ball out of the park as frequently but he's as productive as ever and with guys on base, he's as dangerous as there is in baseball and he got some huge hits for us tonight," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Guerrero, who now leads the team with 96 RBI.

The Red Sox won the first game, 8-4, behind rookie righthander Clay Buchholz in his major league debut.

The troubles for Eric Gagne (3-1) continued as he allowed all three ninth-inning runs to take the loss.

Gagne has blown three games since being acquired at the trading deadline from Texas and lost his first game since Aug. 19, 2004 when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With one out Gagne walked pinch hitter Casey Kotchman, then allowed a single to Chone Figgins. Orlando Cabrera followed with a single to tie the game, setting the stage for Guerrero, who doubled home a pair of runs.

"He's not an easy guy to score runs off, especially in this park, and under the circumstances of giving up the lead," Scioscia said.

"We got a walk on a 3-1, pretty much borderline pitch," added Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who along with first baseman Kevin Youkilis were ejected in the bottom of the ninth for arguing a foul-tip that was called strike three by home plate umpire Brian Runge.

"Once they got a runner on, they got the leadoff hitter and the middle of the order coming up and they got their guys hitting with runners on base and we had nowhere to put them. We let some balls cut too much of the plate, ends up being a frustrating inning all the way around."

Trailing 4-1 entering the eighth, the Red Sox loaded the bases against Scot Shields. Angels manager Mike Scioscia called on closer Francisco Rodriguez to face Ortiz.

Rodriguez (5-2) uncorked a wild pitch to allow one run to score. Ortiz then lined a two-run double to left-center, tying the game, 4-4. Ramirez lined the first pitch from Rodriguez down the left field line for a double that scored Ortiz for a 5-4 lead.

"If you watch most of the time, these guys (relievers) don't want to give in to me or Manny," Ortiz said. "They pitch us in 20 different ways. We don't have the numbers that we normally put up there but our numbers ain't that bad, I don't think."

Rodriguez earned the win, pitching a scoreless 10th, despite blowing just his fourth save in 34 chances.

"Especially after giving up those four runs it was nice to see my teammates pick me up," Rodriguez said. "It was a great, great comeback. Hopefully, we start a new streak and see if we can take the series."

Guerrero connected for two doubles and a triple and scored twice while Gary Matthews Jr. homered, helping the Angels build a 4-1 lead.

Ervin Santana entered Friday's nightcap with a 1-9 record and an 8.79 ERA away from Angels Stadium, part of the reason the Angels optioned him to Class AAA Salt Lake in late July.

But the righthander, called up to make his first start since July 17, rewarded the Angels for showing faith in him by retiring the first 13 batters he faced.

J.D. Drew singled to right with one out in the fifth, giving Boston its first baserunner.

Santana received a no-decision despite holding the Red Sox to four hits and one run over 6 1/3 innings. He walked none and struck out five.

"He's going to make another start for us next week," Scioscia said. "He earned it tonight."

The Angels meantime didn't fair much better against Boston starter Josh Beckett, who didn't give up a hit until Cabrera's two-out single in the third. Cabrera scored from first when Ramirez in left field couldn't cleanly handle Guerrero's double down the left field line.

Beckett, who was taken off the hook by the eighth-inning comeback, lasted seven innings. He allowed five hits and two runs - one earned - with eight strikeouts and a walk.

"That's about as much of a rollercoaster as you can be on," Scioscia said. "Both of those starting pitchers, Ervin (Santana) and (Josh) Beckett, were throwing some gas all night. The two runs that we had, we thought we were going to have a chance to hold up. Turned out that we needed to score a bunch and we did. That's one of the best comebacks we've had and I think it says a lot about our guys."