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Santana strong, Angels cruise by Tigers

Sep 4, 2008 - 9:06 PM DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim continued to move closer to another American League West Division title on Thursday.

Ervin Santana pitched 7 1/3 excellent innings and Mark Teixeira had two RBI as the Angels coasted to a 7-1 victory over the spiritless Detriot Tigers.

Torii Hunter homered and Juan Rivera also drove in a pair of runs for the Angels (85-54), who reduced their magic number in the AL West to six. Anaheim, which is the reigning division champions, also began the day one-half game behind the Tampa Bay Rays (84-53) for the best record in the AL.

Teixeira had run-scoring hits in each of his first two plate appearances and now has nine RBI in his last five games and 30 since joining the Angels at the end of July.

"The team being so good and in the middle of a pennant race, I don't have to put any pressure on myself," Teixeira said. "I can relax and concentrate on my hitting."

Unbeaten since July 27, Santana (15-5) allowed just one run and six hits, walking one and striking out eight.

"My fastball was my best pitch from the start," Santana said. "I was able to get ahead of the hitters and get them out."

The righthander got plenty of run support early as Teixeira and Rivera had an RBI double in the first and second innings, respectively, to give the Angels a quick 2-0 lead.

Anaheim extended its bulge in the third as the first five batters all reached on singles. Robb Quinlan, Teixeira, Vladimir Guerrero and Rivera all had run-scoring singles in the inning as the Angels chased Tigers starter Kenny Rogers (9-13).

"We got a good look at Rogers early and jumped on him," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "It seemed like every ball was finding a hole."

Rogers was charged with six runs and eight hits in two-plus innings.

"It was frustrating because you want to keep the team in the game," Rogers said. "Everything they hit went for a double or single or whatever, just couldn't stem the tides. They had Santana on the mound, the way he's been throwing, you just can't go out there and do that.

"It doesn't afford the offense the opportunity to stay in the game so I kind of took them out of it pretty quick."

The Tigers never mounted a serious threat as only one runner reached third base prior to Curtis Granderson's solo home run with one out in the eighth.

Hunter hit his 20th home run of the season in the top of the eighth, the seventh time in his career that he has hit at least 20.