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Anderson's eighth-inning homer sends Angels to victory

Jul 2, 2008 - 6:36 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- While the expected pitchers' duel between Rich Harden and Ervin Santana appeared to be the main attraction coming into Tuesday's game, it was Garret Anderson who stole the show.

Anderson hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the eighth, powering the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to a 5-3 win over the Oakland Athletics.

After Mark Ellis homered in the top of the eighth to stake Oakland to a 3-2 lead, Vladimir Guerrero knotted the score in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single off Alan Embree (1-3).

"It was a big hit at the time for us, but we know that they (Angels) can come back from any deficit," Ellis said. "We got a big run, but it just wasn't enough tonight."

Five pitches later, Anderson drove a 3-1 fastball over the right-field fence for a home run - his seventh of the season - to give the Angels a 5-3 advantage.

"I got a pitch on the hands and just turned on it," Anderson said. "This was a good win for us after the past few games we have played."

"The team played well tonight, and I just didn't get the job done," Embree said. "There were two pitches that I wish I could have back. ... I wanted to throw Garret a fastball away, but left it in. I can't make mistakes like that to him because he will hit it."

Scot Shields (4-2), who surrendered Ellis' blast, permitted one run in the eighth to collect the victory. Closer Francisco Rodriguez tossed a perfect ninth for his 33rd save in 35 chances.

"Of course, that was a big hit from G.A. (Anderson) because we were able to give the ball to (Rodriguez) and let him do what he does best," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

A two-time All-Star, Rodriguez is one away from John Smoltz's 2003 record for most saves at the All-Star break.

The late runs took some of the luster from the pitching matchup in this game, which pitted Harden - who was bidding to become the first A's pitcher to start a season off 6-0 in 18 years - against Santana, who had not allowed an earned run in 21 consecutive innings here.

Harden settled for his seventh no-decision of the campaign, allowing two runs and five hits over five innings.

"Overall, I didn't feel great," Harden said. "I didn't have my command and velocity and sometimes it just happens to go like that. I never want to just last five innings, but I just have to work on that."

Santana, on the other hand, yielded two runs and eight hits over seven frames, striking out seven.

"I didn't have my best stuff early in the game because they were hitting me hard," Santana said. "I settled down and kept us in the game, but we ended up getting a good win for us."