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Izturis helps Angels rally past Blue Jays

Jun 2, 2008 - 12:13 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Perhaps A.J. Burnett should have finished what he started.

Mike Napoli scored the trying run and Maicer Izturis drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

Burnett was on top of his game and in line for his second win in a row over the Angels in the last two weeks until closer B.J. Ryan failed to seal the deal in the ninth.

With Anaheim trailing by one run, Vladimir Guerrero laced a single to left and advanced to third on Torii Hunter's base hit to right against Ryan (1-1). But Guerrero got caught up in a rundown at home on Casey Kotchman's grounder.

Ryan then intentionally walked Napoli with the hopes of getting pinch hitter Juan Rivera to ground into an game-ending double play. But Rivera struck out swinging for the second out, putting the game into Howie Kendrick's hands.

However, Ryan hit Kendrick on the first pitch to allow Napoli to tie things up at 3-3 while keeping the bags full for Izturis, who slapped a walk-off single to right field for the win.

"I just got hit on the elbow, I'm not sure if he (Ryan) was just trying to pitch me inside," Kendrick said. "I didn't want to get hit, but for the most part it just happened - and we got a good win."

"I just wanted to stay inside the ball and thought about what I needed to do to get results," Izturis said through an interpreter. "I focused on trying to hit the ball the opposite way. I was thinking that I was going to get a pitch to hit since they had two outs and wanted to end the game."

Ryan took full blame for the loss.

"I just went out there and made pitches and they hit me," Ryan said. "I tried to make a pitch inside to Kendrick but the pitch sailed in too far and hit him. A.J. pitches like that for eight innings and I just cough it up for him. It's a tough part of the job when you can't get it done."

"That doesn't happen often to Ryan," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He's been unbelievable for us this year. We had many other opportunities to get some runs but didn't get it done. A.J. was great and just pitched a solid game for us, and didn't get the win."

The win also mark the Angels' fourth late-game heroics during their six-game homestand.

"We know that we are never out of a game, and that these guys don't quit," Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia said. "We won some tough games this homestand late in the ballgame, which is great for the club."

Anaheim's Jose Arredondo (2-0) fanned two batters through 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the win.

Rookie Sean Rodriguez's two-run homer was the lone mistake for Burnett, who yielded three hits with eight strikeouts and three walks.

"B.J. has done a terrific job for us this year, and it's just part of baseball," Burnett said. "Nobody is perfect, and I know he will bounce back. I just attacked the strike zone and tried to get quick outs. I felt good, and just can't wait to go out for my next start."

Alex Rios scored on a wild pitch, Marco Scutaro added a sacrifice fly and Rod Barajas delivered his fourth homer in 11 games for the Blue Jays.

Angels starter Jon Garland gave up three runs and five hits over five frames in his second straight no-decision. The righthander walked four and struck out three.