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Lackey, Guerrero lift Angels over Orioles

Jul 1, 2007 - 9:32 PM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- John Lackey was simply brilliant and Vladimir Guerrero threw out the potential game-tying run in the ninth inning as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 4-3, on Sunday.

Lackey (11-5) allowed just two runs and four hits in 7 1/3 innings as he won for the seventh time in his last nine decisions. Lackey struck out five and walked three as he improved his career record against Baltimore to 6-2.

To preserve the win, Guerrero caught a shallow fly ball by Brian Roberts in right field and threw out Melvin Mora at the plate for the final out of the game.

Replays, however, showed that Mora was safe.

"A great play all the way around," Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. "It's really a blind tag. Mike did a great job of securing the tag."

The play enabled Francisco Rodriguez to earn his 24th save in 26 chances by pitching the final 1 1/3 innings.

"Mora runs pretty well. It was going through my mind like he was coming," said Anaheim catcher Mike Napoli, who suffered a high ankle sprain making the tag.

Mora, who was icing his foot after the game and is questionable for Monday's game in Chicago, defended his choice.

"I tried to tag because I know Vlady is going to have to go get that ball," Mora said. "It was the only chance we had, so we have to go for it."

Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said he like Mora's attempt to score.

"With one out, that's good baseball. Melvin played it perfectly," Trembley said.

Los Angeles scored three runs off Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie (4-2) in the fourth.

Chone Figgins, who set a team record for most hits in a month with 53 in June, had his first in July, a leadoff single. He scored on Guerrero's double to left, and Casey Kotchman broke an 0-for-19 slump with a two-run home run to right, his ninth of the year.

The Angels (51-31), who had lost four of their previous five games, added their fourth run on a one-out home run by Napoli in the eighth. His eighth home run of the season broke an 0-for-13 slump.

"When you catch a winner, it's a perfect day for me - and I hit a home run," Napoli said.

Jay Payton's two-run home run, his second of the season and his first since May 4, gave Baltimore a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Payton's home run plated Kevin Millar, who had the Orioles' only other hit until the eighth, a leadoff ground-rule double.

"That was a Baltimore home run," Lackey joked. "It was a bad pitch. It should have been a double."

Baltimore scratched a run in the eighth after pinch hitter Ramon Hernandez singled to center, plating Roberts.

Guthrie (4-2) lost for just the second time this season - his first since his initial start on April 24. He allowed four runs, the most in his 12 starts this season, as well as four hits and struck out seven. Guthrie has pitched at least seven innings in nine of his last 10 starts.

"Everything was good. The location on the fastball felt real good throughout, better than average and better than normal for me," Guthrie said.

Baltimore fell to 6-5 under interim manager Dave Trembley.