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Rivera delivers walk-off hit as Angels top Blue Jays

Jun 1, 2008 - 5:37 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Pinch hitter Juan Rivera delivered an RBI single in the 10th inning to lift the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

John Lackey pitched eight strong frames and Torii Hunter hit a solo home run for the Angels, who avoided their third straight loss.

Casey Kotchman started the one-out rally in the 10th by belting a base hit to center field. He advanced to third when Blue Jays reliever Brian Tallet (0-1) committed a crucial throwing error on Maicer Izturis' grounder down the third base line.

"The bottom of our order did a good job getting on base tonight," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We did a good job pressuring them tonight, but we didn't get it done with runners in scoring position."

After Tallet intentionally walked Jeff Mathis, Anaheim sent Rivera to the plate for Brandon Wood to face Jason Frasor. Rivera slapped a 1-1 offering into right field, easily scoring Kotchman with the game-winning run.

"I feel like when I'm not playing, I have to be ready for those type of pressure situations," Rivera said through an interpreter. "I was just looking for a fastball that I could get into the air but made solid contact and got a hit."

Scot Shields (3-1) picked up the win after pitching a perfect 10th inning and Izturis collected four hits for the Angels, who have won eight of their last 12 contests.

"We have been pitching good all month, but we are getting no help offensively right now," Scioscia said. "Our bullpen shut them down and gave us the chance to get a run late and get the win."

Lackey yielded two runs - one earned - and six hits with a walk and seven strikeouts, while Toronto starter Shaun Marcum gave up two runs and 11 hits in seven frames. Marcum walked one and struck out two.

"I felt like I had good stuff tonight," Lackey said. "They were aggressive against me and made me throw a lot of pitches early."

The Blue Jays opened the scoring thanks to some poor defense by the Angels. After singling with one out in the fourth, Marco Scutaro advanced to third on Alex Rios' base hit.

He then scored on second baseman Howie Kendrick's fielding error, which occurred when Anaheim caught Rios in a rundown between first and second.

"That was a big play in the game, and you have to take advantage of those mistakes when a team like the Angels gives them to you," Marcum said.

Hunter evened the contest at 1-1 in the bottom half with his seventh home run of season.

Rod Barajas gave Toronto another brief lead in the seventh with a solo blast, but Anaheim answered in the bottom of the frame on Kendrick's RBI double.

"I got a pitch up in the zone and just hit it hard," Barajas said. "Shaun pitched a great game for us, but runs are hard to get when we are facing a guy like Lackey."