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Kotchman helps Angels sweep Red Sox

Jul 21, 2008 - 1:59 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- It looked like the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were going to fall short of a three-game sweep before eventually throwing a knuckleball of their own to Tim Wakefield and the Boston Red Sox.

Casey Kotchman smacked a two-run double and capped a three-run eighth inning to help the Angels rally past the Red Sox, 5-3, on Sunday.

"This was definitely not the way we wanted to come back and play after the break," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "Their club is a good club and their record speaks for itself."

Protecting a 3-2 lead, Wakefield allowed a leadoff extra-base hit to Juan Rivera before Howie Kendrick laced an RBI double to tie the game. Chone Figgins then worked a walk and Kotchman delivered the go-ahead hit against reliever Manny Delcarmen.

"I felt good out there today," Wakefield said. "I had good control of my pitches today, but just ran into some trouble in the eighth inning and they ended up getting a big hit when they needed it. We just have to forget about this series and go out and get ready to play (Monday)."

Wakefield (6-7) threw seven innings and was tagged for four runs and six hits in the loss.

"Wakefield was tough, he changed speeds and got on a roll and kept us quiet for a while," Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia said. "(Closer Francisco Rodriguez) is on an incredible run and we feel safe when we give him the ball in the ninth."

Rodriguez notched his major league-leading 40th save by throwing a perfect ninth.

An error by Angels right fielder Vladimir Guerrero in the eighth allowed Coco Crisp to score, snapping a 2-2 tie and setting up Anaheim's comeback.

Manny Ramirez smacked an RBI double and Mike Lowell had a run-scoring single against Angels starter Jon Garland before Jacoby Ellsbury reached on Guerrero's blunder.

Garland didn't factor in the decision but surrendered three runs - two earned - and six hits in 6 1/3 frames.

"We can't be too happy taking the three games and just sit back," Garland said. "We still have a lot of baseball to play so we just have to keep playing hard."

Guerrero and Torii Hunter led off the second with back-to-back homers, but Wakefield cruised until the crucial eighth.

"I got an off-speed pitch and was just trying to square it up and whatever happened, happened," Kotchman said. "I just didn't want to hit the ball on the ground for a double play."

Dustin Pedroia went 3-for-4 for Boston, raising his batting average to .322.

"It doesn't matter how many hits I get if we don't win the game," Pedroia said. "We just need to start hitting consistently and the wins will come. We were in every game this series for the most part and had our chances to win those games but came up short."