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Streaking Angels beat Twins 13-4 to sweep series

Aug 2, 2009 - 11:35 PM By NOMAAN MERCHANT Associated Press Writer

MINNEAPOLIS(AP) -- Take away Torii Hunter and Vladimir Guerrero, and the Los Angeles Angels still have one potent offense.

Kendry Morales hit two three-run homers to finish with a career-high six RBIs and the Angels beat the Minnesota Twins 13-4 on Sunday to sweep their three-game series.

Los Angeles has won 13 of 15 to improve to an AL-best 63-40 on the year, and Morales is a big reason why. He is batting .368 with nine homers and 24 RBIs in his last 17 games.

"I'm just taking care of doing my job," Morales said through an interpreter. "It's about me being able to do the job day after day."

Morales hit his 22nd homer in the fifth as the Angels opened the inning with five straight hits to chase Glen Perkins. He connected again in the eighth to give Los Angeles a 13-4 lead.

The production of Morales and Bobby Abreu, who had two hits, have kept the Angels atop the American League even with their best two hitters out with injuries.

"Thank God they're getting out of here," Twins right fielder Denard Span said. "The last two days, they were just pretty much stealing our lunch money, kicking our butts."

Jered Weaver (11-3) struck out a career-high 11 in 6 1-3 innings for the Angels, allowing four runs and four hits.

Justin Morneau hit his 28th homer and newly acquired Orlando Cabrera also went deep for Minnesota. Cabrera was obtained in a trade with Oakland on Friday.

Perkins had allowed just one run over 16 innings against the Angels in two career starts. But they didn't miss anything this weekend, finishing with 35 runs in the series.

"This was just as much of a 'wrong place at the wrong time' than the quality of our team or the quality of our pitchers or anything like that," said Perkins, who gave up nine runs, eight earned and 12 hits.

Even little-used Sean Rodriguez, batting ninth, contributed for the Angels. He homered in the second inning and finished with three RBIs in his 12th game of the season.

NOTES: Twins LHP Francisco Liriano said his bullpen session went well. He missed his last start due to soreness and swelling in his forearm, but is on track to start on Wednesday at Cleveland. ... Span reached over the foul wall in right field to make a sprinting grab in the third inning. The play impressed his friend Hunter, an eight-time Gold Glove winner, who smiled as he watched the play from the Angels' dugout. "I can't let him leave without him seeing a little something from his little protege," Span said.