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Lowe outpitches Santana in Freeway series opener

Jun 16, 2007 - 6:41 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Derek Lowe and Ervin Santana locked into a classic pitchers duel as Los Angeles Dodgers exacted a small measure of revenge behind the right arm of Derek Lowe, earning a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the interleague series opener on Friday.

Lowe (7-6) lasted seven innings, yielding one run and three hits while striking out a career-high 11. The veteran sinkerballer allowed just one extra-base hit - a double by Vladimir Guerrero that was mishandled by right fielder Matt Kemp - and issued just one walk to earn his seventh win of the season.

"I don't think Derek Lowe can pitch much better," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "His stuff was electric."

The Angels, who swept the Dodgers in a three-game series at Angels Stadium four weeks ago, could not figure out Lowe this time.

"He had good stuff tonight," said center fielder Gary Matthews Jr., who struck out three times against Lowe. "He located well. I think he was comfortable because we never really got anybody on, maybe just in that (seventh inning).

"He pitched ahead all night and located extremely well, and we just couldn't get any momentum. You'd like to get some guys on and create some pressure, but we were never in that position."

Santana (5-7) matched Lowe pitch-for-pitch through the early innings, not allowing a hit until Kemp singled with two outs in the fifth. The young righthander allowed two runs and four hits in seven frames, while striking out four and issuing a pair of walks.

"I liked his command," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I liked the way he was able to locate his fastball and he pitched inside well. He pitched the kind of game he needs to on a game-by-game basis."

The Dodgers finally got to Santana in the sixth when leadoff man Rafael Furcal began the inning with a bunt single to shortstop and moved to second when Juan Pierre slapped a line-drive single into left field.

Furcal took third on Nomar Garciaparra's flyout to right before Santana loaded the bases by hitting Jeff Kent with a pitch.

Veteran Luis Gonzalez then provided the deciding blow, lining a single into center field to plate Furcal and Pierre.

"I was just looking for something in the zone, and fortunately, I got it," Gonzalez said.

Santana, who has been awful on the road throughout his career, entered Friday's game 1-5 with an 8.50 ERA in road contests this season. He appeared to get rattled in the sixth with the speedy Furcal and Pierre on base, but was otherwise dominant, not allowing an extra-base hit the entire outing.

Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless eighth and Takashi Saito worked a scoreless ninth for his 19th save in 20 chances.