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Santana, Angels shut down Mariners

Apr 20, 2008 - 4:46 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Even though Ervin Santana is proving he can win anywhere this season, it doesn't mean he still doesn't enjoy a little home cooking.

Santana tossed eight dominating innings, leading the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.

A 25-year-old righthander, Santana has been incredible at home (25-9 with a 3.14 ERA) while just the opposite on the road (12-21 with a 6.92 ERA).

So far this season, however, he is faring well both home and away, not having allowed more than three runs in any of his three starts while tossing at least six frames in each appearance.

"To me, the fastball was the most important thing and the first-pitch strike," Santana said. "I had the best concentration I ever had. I think this is the best game I've pitched so far; I wanted to do my best from my first pitch to my last."

"This might have been the best stuff I've ever seen (Santana) have; he was really loaded and had great life on the fastball with great command," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "When you're throwing the ball that hard and able to get it in on the corners and get that hard breaking pitch over, you are going to give any team trouble."

Santana (3-0) set the Mariners down in order in five of his first six innings before allowing a seventh-inning solo home run to Adrian Beltre.

Santana yielded a run and three hits with eight strikeouts before giving way to Scot Shields to start the ninth.

Shields, who usually serves as the setup man for closer Francisco Rodriguez, worked around a hit to notch his first save of the season.

"It's fun to be that last guy, especially when you get it done, I'm definitely OK with it and OK with working a few innings earlier," Shields said.

After taking a 1-0 advantage in the second on a sacrifice fly from Jeff Mathis, Erick Aybar gave the Angels more of a working margin in the fourth when he lofted a two-run single to right off Jarrod Washburn (1-3), taking second on the throw.

Chone Figgins, the next batter, followed with another single to bring around the Angels' final run.

"Erick (Aybar) had a big hit for us; we had a lot of hits but we didn't have a lot going until we got some two-out hits in that fourth inning that gave Ervin (Santana) a lead so he could relax." Scioscia said. "We had to scrap for everything we got and the two-out hits by Erick Aybar and Chone Figgins were important to this game."

Washburn surrendered four runs and 10 hits over six frames to take the loss for the Mariners, who have lost 13 of their last 16 games at Angel Stadium.

"I thought Washburn threw the ball well, he had that one bad inning where he gave up three runs, but he hung in there and put up some zeros after that," Mariners manager John McLaren said. "Thats Washburn, he's going to battle you and give you everything he's got. Take away a couple base hits and we still might be playing..."

Aybar and Vladimir Guerrero each had two hits for the Angels, who have won three straight.