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Mathis' 3-run homer leads Angels over Rangers 9-4

Jul 7, 2009 - 8:20 AM ANAHEIM, Calif.(AP) -- Before hitting a pair of RBI singles and robbing Hank Blalock of an extra-base hit with yet another defensive gem in center field, Torii Hunter nearly saw his errorless streak slip away.

The eight-time Gold Glove winner relayed the ball toward third base after an RBI single by Blalock in the first inning of the Angels' 9-4 victory over Texas on Monday night. Shortstop Maicer Izturis was supposed to cut off the throw, but it went past him, and skipped by third baseman Chone Figgins as another run scored.

The error was charged to Figgins, and Hunter was able to extend his errorless streak to 235 consecutive games - the longest active streak among outfielders.

"I was sweating a little bit, to be honest," said Hunter, whose last error was on Aug. 31, 2007. "I thought they would give me the error because I made the throw. But I wasn't trying to throw him out. I was actually just trying to hit the cutoff man, but he let it go. It was a mistake on his part. I was very upset. But the streak lives."

Jeff Mathis hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the second inning, helping the Angels snap a first-place tie with the Rangers in the AL West. Juan Rivera also had a pair of RBI singles and Jered Weaver (9-3) struck out nine over seven innings for the victory.

Weaver allowed four runs and seven hits, including a two-run homer in the seventh by Ian Kinsler that snapped a career-worst 0-for-24 drought by the Rangers' second baseman.

"It's hard to take Kins out for the teams we've been playing," manager Ron Washington said. "I mean, how can you tell Kins: 'I'm going to sit you against Anaheim?' or 'I'm going to sit you against Tampa Bay?' I wasn't going to do that. He's got seven days left, and he's going to learn how to grind. It's going to help him to understand how to play when you're a little fatigued - because he is fatigued. At this point, everybody is fatigued."

Josh Hamilton, who was activated from the disabled list before the game, was 2 for 4 with a double and two strikeouts.

"I would have stayed down longer if I didn't feel like I was ready," said Hamilton, who will play in his second straight All-Star game next week. "It's good to be back up here and be around the guys again and actually feel like part of the team, instead of just a guy hanging out."

The Rangers had a 4 1/2 game lead on the Angels when Hamilton went on the DL on June 2, and led them by 5 1/2 games on May 30.

Both teams reached the midway point of their respective schedules. The Angels (46-35) were 48-33 at this stage last season and the Rangers (45-36) were 41-40.

"You have to play well against whatever team shows up on the schedule," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "If we were playing any other team but Texas, it doesn't mean we don't have to bring the focus and intensity. It's still July, there's still a lot of baseball left, and we're still trying to evolve as a team."

Kevin Millwood (8-6) gave up nine runs and nine hits over five innings in the shortest of his 18 starts this season. He has given up 13 runs and 17 hits over 11 1-3 innings in his past two starts - both against the Angels - after giving up just seven runs in 40 2-3 innings over his previous six outings.

"I didn't hit my spots. When I tried to go away, it would drift over the middle of the plate. And when I didn't hit my spots, they hit those mistakes," Millwood said. "I think pitching up is part of my game, one of my strengths. But thigh high isn't. Thigh high is a bad place to throw the ball, and that's where I was missing tonight."

Mariners 5, Orioles 0=

At Seattle, Jarrod Washburn tossed a one-hitter for his ninth career complete game. It was the first one-hitter by a Mariners pitcher at Safeco Field, and 10th in franchise history.

Nick Markakis had the only hit off Washburn (4-5), a two-out single in the fourth. Washburn faced just one batter over the minimum, issuing no walks and striking out three in his 110-pitch effort.

Athletics 6, Red Sox 0=

At Boston, rookie Brett Anderson (5-7) threw a two-hitter, Oakland's first complete game since last July 8, and outpitched 21-year veteran John Smoltz (0-2).

Former Red Sox star Nomar Garciaparra received a one-minute standing ovation before his first at-bat as an opponent at Fenway Park, then singled twice and drove in the first run.

Royals 4, Tigers 3=

At Detroit, Mike Jacobs hit a go-ahead solo homer in the ninth and closer Joakim Soria held on for Kansas City's third straight win.

Willie Bloomquist drove in three runs for the Royals, connecting on a home run in the sixth and a two-run triple in the eighth. Roman Colon (1-0) earned his first win since 2006, when he was pitching for Detroit.

Blue Jays 7, Yankees 6=

At New York, Ricky Romero (7-3) extended his scoreless streak to 24 innings before Eric Hinske homered in his Yankees debut, and Toronto avoided getting swept in a four-game series.

Alex Rios hit a three-run homer in the third off Andy Pettitte (8-4), and Scott Rolen extended his career-best hitting streak to 23 games with a two-run double in the seventh that made it 7-1.