• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Garland sharp as Angels down Blue Jays

Jul 6, 2008 - 11:10 PM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Jon Garland pitched his first complete game of the season and Garret Anderson doubled in a pair of runs to lead the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to a 7-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

Juan Rivera chipped in his second homer of the season and Jeff Mathis drove in three for Anaheim, which has won four of its last five games.

Garland (8-5) allowed just one run and six hits while striking out three and not walking a batter to record his first complete game since last September 26, when he was with the Chicago White Sox. The veteran righthander threw 67 of his 98 pitches for strikes.

"Overall I thought I pitched a good game," Garland said. "My changeup was working good, but my slider was rough at times."

Garland, who has allowed three earned runs or less in 11 of his last 12 starts, improved to 11-2 in his career against Toronto.

"I have just been trying to make quality pitches and work ahead of hitters and let my defense work behind me," Garland said.

Anderson provided Garland with all the support he would need in the first, lacing his 13th double of the season to left field off Blue Jays starter Jesse Litsch (8-5) to plate Casey Kotchman and Vladimir Guerrero.

"We have been struggling a little on the offensive side, but it was good to come up with a hit to give Jon (Garland) some runs to work with," Anderson said.

The Angels added another run in the second on Rivera's blast. The 30-year-old Rivera, who has seen limited playing time this season in a crowded Anaheim outfield, designated hitter and first base rotation, boosted his average to .191 (13-for-68) with the homer.

"Juan has been limited to playing time, but we know he's always ready to play," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He got us off on the right foot early in the game."

The Blue Jays got on the board in the fifth when Rod Barajas provided the lone blemish on Garland's line, driving an 0-1 pitch over the left field wall for his seventh homer of the season to cut the deficit to 3-1.

"(Garland) kept our guys off balance today and pitched a terrific game against us," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "We did some good things from this series so we just have to keep pushing and working hard."

Anaheim piled on three more in the sixth when Mathis singled in a pair and eventually came in to score on a wild pitch.

That closed the book on Litsch, who was charged with six runs and eight hits in 5.1 innings. The 23-year-old has lost four of his last five decisions.

"I have some things to work on, and just want to have a better performance my next time out," Litsch said. "I know they have a good team, but I need to minimize my mistakes to stay out of trouble."