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German's blast denies Angels' Scioscia record win

May 3, 2007 - 4:26 AM KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were on the verge of putting manager Mike Scioscia into the record books. Esteban German was not about to let that happen.

German hit his first career home run and Jorge De La Rosa pitched seven strong innings as the Kansas City Royals recorded a 3-1 rain-soaked victory over the Angels on Wednesday in the third game of a four-game set.

Trailing, 1-0, in the seventh, German pounded a pitch from Anaheim starter Ervin Santana (2-4) to deep left-center, staking the Royals to a 3-1 lead. It was the second home run in two nights for Kansas City following a 30-inning homerless drought.

"It came out of the blue," Royals manager Buddy Bell said. "You expect Esteban to put the bat on the ball. We have a lot of confidence with Esteban up in that situation. You just don't expect him to hit a three-run homer, especially the way Santana was throwing."

German's heroics denied Scioscia the opportunity to record his 626th managerial win and break the Angels' club record for wins by a manager, held by Bill Rigney from 1961-1969.

"When I hit it, I knew I got that one," German said. "It's pretty exciting. I hit the ball at the right time. I was just looking for a good pitch to hit. I'm not a power hitter. That's not my game."

De La Rosa (3-2) yielded just one run and five hits with a walk and two strikeouts over seven frames on his way to tying his career high in wins in one season.

"I think I'm making more progress than last year," De La Rosa said. "(With) my mechanics, I'm staying in a straight line. I'm just staying focused. I feel very comfortable."

Brandon Duckworth relieved De La Rosa in the eighth and benefited from a great play by Kansas City catcher Jason LaRue. Following a double by Reggie Willits to lead off the inning, Duckworth bounced a pitch with Orlando Cabrera at the plate.

Willits took off for third, but the Royals' backstop was able to retrieve the ball and throw him out.

"LaRue made one of the best plays a catcher can make, on the ball in the dirt, throwing Willits out at third, one of the fastest runners in the league," Bell said. "It's an incredible play."

"I saw him going," LaRue said. "(Just as )soon as the ball hit the dirt, he pretty much took off. In that situation, your instincts take over."

Brandon Duckworth yielded one hit in the eighth before turning it over to closer Joakim Soria, who pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save in as many chances.

Santana, who was just 9-14 with a 6.77 ERA on the road in his career entering this game, did not fare much better in this contest in dropping his fourth straight game away from Angel Stadium.

He surrendered three runs and 11 hits with a walk and six strikeouts. By comparison, Santana carries a 21-5 lifetime record with a 3.01 ERA at home.

"I don't worry about that because I do the same thing (home and away)," Santana said. "I try to locate every pitch and keep the ball down and I try not to put too much pressure on myself. One day, it is going to be my turn."

"Santana had good stuff," Scioscia said. "He was pitching well. He did a terrific job of pitching out of trouble. One pitch ended up being the ballgame. We couldn't give him some breathing room on the offensive side to let him relax. They did a good job of keeping the field playable. I don't think the field got sloppy."

Chone Figgins had an RBI single for the Angels, who dropped only their third game in their last 13.

Reggie Sanders left the game shortly after hitting a double in the bottom of the sixth inning due to a tight left hamstring.

"I did it rounding first and going to second," Sanders said. "I wanted to be a tough guy and stay in, but then I realized I couldn't. Hopefully, it's a cramp more than anything. I think it's weather-related."