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Saunders, Kotchman help Angels avoid sweep

Jun 16, 2008 - 3:22 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Joe Saunders tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings and Casey Kotchman blasted a two-run home run as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim avoided a sweep with a 2-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night.

Saunders (10-3) became the third American League pitcher to reach the 10-win mark this season, joining Cleveland's Cliff Lee and New York's Mike Mussina.

The lefthander, who will celebrate his 27th birthday on Monday, yielded six hits and no walks with three strikeouts over his 99-pitch outing.

"My last outing was a rough one, so I wanted to turn it around today," Saunders said. "Just wanted to make pitches and let the defense do the work."

Scot Shields retired the final two batters in the eighth before Francisco Rodriguez pitched a perfect ninth for his major league-leading 28th save of the season.

Kotchman provided Saunders with all the run support he would need in the fifth frame, sending a 1-1 offering from Braves starter Jorge Campillo (2-1) over the right field wall to snap a scoreless tie and give the Angels a 2-0 edge.

"I was just trying to find the barrel on the bat and make solid contact," said Kotchman, who hit his first home run since April 23. "I knew I had enough on it for a home run, just didn't know if it was going to be fair or foul."

Vladimir Guerrero had two hits for Los Angeles, which needed just seven hits to pick up the win.

"Runs were at a premium tonight and we held on to get a win and salvage the series," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Campillo lasted eight innings, allowing two runs and seven hits with no walks. The righthander matched a career-high with seven strikeouts.

"You can't pitch any better than he (Campillo) did today," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "We had chances to score in the first inning and just didn't do much offensively after that."

Yunel Escobar had two hits for Atlanta, which owns a major league-worst 9-25 road record this season.

"Good to come here and beat a good team in their own place and take the series," Braves first baseman Mark Teixeira said.

Chipper Jones is hitless over his last 11 at-bats, lowering his major league-best batting average to .402.