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Back-to-back homers help Angels top A's

May 26, 2011 - 5:55 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Torii Hunter and Alberto Callaspo ripped back- to-back homers in the fifth inning, lifting the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim over the Oakland Athletics, 4-1, in the third installment of a four-game set.

Hank Conger had a pair of hits and scored while Ervin Santana tossed six strong innings for the Angels, who have won four of their last six contests. Santana (3-4) allowed just one run on six hits and struck out six in the win, his second in a row.

Coco Crisp brought in the lone run for the A's, who have dropped seven of their last eight games.

Reliable Oakland starter Trevor Cahill (6-2) was touched for four runs -- three earned -- in six innings, giving up 10 hits and walking five.

"Trevor didn't have his best command tonight after last night's solid outing," A's manager Bob Geren said. "We thought we came out with momentum tonight, but Santana did let us keep it."

The Angels took the comfortable lead in the fifth inning and never looked back.

Back-to-back one-out homers started the rally for the home team. Hunter golfed a low sinker from Cahill over the fence in center field, and Callaspo belted a shot into the right field seats for a 3-1 lead.

"I'm just trying to settle in and focus," Hunter said. "Cahill is one of the best pitchers in the American League. We were able to capitalize on a couple of his mistakes. He doesn't make many."

Mark Trumbo kept the rally going with a single and scored two batters later, when Reggie Willits doubled into the center-right alley. It was Willits' first hit and RBI of the season.

The Halos held on the rest of the way thanks to the work of set-up men Fernando Rodney and Scott Downs, who pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings, respectively. Jordan Walden tossed a shutout ninth to record his 10th save of the season.

Conger had a one-out single, moved to third on an Alexi Amarista single and Willits' ground out in the second frame. He scurried home on Peter Bourjos's infield single for the game's first score.

Oakland tied the game in the top of the fifth on Crisp's RBI double.

Game Notes

Hunter has recorded an RBI in the last six games (eight RBI overall), a career high...Santana improved to 13-3 against the A's...Oakland has won 10 of the last 12 contests against Oakland in Anaheim.