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Angels' Santana dominates Athletics, remains undefeated

May 1, 2008 - 5:49 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Ervin Santana had no trouble continuing his dominance of the Oakland Athletics.

Santana pitched 6 2/3 outstanding innings Wednesday to lead the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to a 6-1 victory over the Athletics.

The 25-year-old righthander (5-0) allowed just one unearned run, four hits and a walk while striking out three. With the win, Santana improved to 8-1 in 10 career starts against the Athletics, surrendering just 12 runs - 10 earned - in 72 innings.

"I just keep my focus and make good pitches against any team I face," Santana said. "It just happens to be that I pitch good against (the A's)."

Despite becoming just the third pitcher in Angels history to post a 5-0 record in April, Santana - who logged a 7-14 record and 5.76 ERA last season - is sure he still can improve.

"I'm 500 percent positive that I can do better than this," he said. "The key to my success this year is throwing first-pitch strikes and working ahead in the count. (I'm) just trying to take it one start at a time."

Casey Kotchman had three hits, drove in three runs and scored another while Juan Rivera and Torii Hunter each had two hits to lead the Angels' offense.

"I have been fortunate to find holes when hitting with guys on base," Kotchman said. "I just try to make the most of my opportunities with runners on base and just put together a quality at-bat."

Kotchman opened the scoring with a two-run double to left field in the second inning against Oakland rookie Dana Eveland (3-2), who gave up six runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings with two walks and five strikeouts.

"It definitely wasn't my best stuff tonight, but I managed to keep us in the game somewhat," Eveland said. "I made some mistakes in the zone that came back to get me. I just have to put this one behind me and get ready for my next start."

Hunter extended the lead to 3-0 with an RBI single in the third before the Athletics scored their only run of the game off Santana in the fifth.

Santana appeared to be out of the frame when Jack Hannahan grounded to third base with Jack Cust on first. However, third baseman Matt Brown committed a throwing error, and Ryan Sweeney made the Angels pay, plating Cust from second with a single to left to narrow the deficit to 3-1.

Kotchman helped put the game out of reach in the sixth as Anaheim scored three runs in the inning to build a 6-1 advantage.

"Kotch has been carrying a full load on the offensive side while other guys are struggling right now," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Erick Aybar and Rivera hit back-to-back singles with one out before Kotchman ripped a double to deep right field, giving the Angels a 4-1 lead and chasing Eveland.

"I thought that (Eveland) threw the ball really well but missed location in a couple spots in the beginning of the game that hurt him," A's manager Bob Geren said.

Reliever Joey Devine did not fair any better, as the first batter he faced, Jeff Mathis, executed a successful squeeze play to plate Rivera.

Chone Figgins capped the inning with an RBI single to left, extending his hitting streak to 14 games.