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Guerrero, Angels rally past Twins

Aug 25, 2008 - 12:07 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- It took six innings, but the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim found their offensive groove just in time.

Vladimir Guerrero and Gary Matthews Jr. hit RBI triples in the eighth inning as the Angels overcame a three-run deficit to upend the Minnesota Twins, 5-3, on Sunday.

Trailing, 3-0, after 5 1/2 innings, the Angels reeled off five straight runs en route to the win, which tied them with the Tampa Bay Rays (79-50) for the best record in the American League.

"We just chipped away and got the lead and managed to hold off a good team," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Good to get a split after losing the first two games of the series."

Justin Morneau single-handedly staked the Twins to a 3-0 lead, driving in all three runs.

The Twins' first baseman, who fell a triple shy of the cycle, delivered an RBI single in the first inning, a run-scoring double in the third and his 20th homer of the season in the sixth off Angels starter Ervin Santana.

"I feel comfortable at the plate right now and just hope to keep it going and help the team win games," Morneau said.

A solo home run by Mark Teixeira in the sixth inning, his seventh with the Angels and third in the series, cut the deficit to 3-1.

"The pitch hung up a little and I hit it hard," Teixeira said of his homer. "I'm just trying to restrict myself and swing at good pitches."

Howie Kendrick scored on a groundout by Chone Figgins in the seventh to make it 3-2, setting the stage for the decisive eighth inning.

Teixeira started the frame with a double off Dennys Reyes, who came on in relief of starter Kevin Slowey in the seventh. Jesse Crain (5-3) entered and gave up an RBI triple by Guerrero and, after Torii Hunter struck out, Matthews ripped a go-ahead three-base hit to right field to give Anaheim the lead.

"It was one of those innings where we just couldn't stop the bleeding," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "It's baseball, and that happens sometimes. (A) split is good, but we had a chance to win one of the last two games but just didn't execute."

Juan Rivera plated Matthews with a sacrifice fly to cap the scoring.

Slowey allowed two runs and eight hits, striking out five without walking a batter in 6 1/3 innings.

"I felt like I got myself into a good groove out there and just wanted to keep their guys off-balance," Slowey said. "I did my job by just keeping us in the game and giving us a shot to pull out a win."

Santana worked seven frames, yielding three runs and nine hits with 10 strikeouts. He also did not issue a walk.

"I do nothing different than usual," Santana said. "Just have to go out and pitch the way I know how. My fastball set up my other pitches today, and overall, I pitched a good game."

Jose Arredondo (6-1) tossed a scoreless eighth to notch the win and Francisco Rodriguez worked around a leadoff single in the ninth to record his major league-leading 50th save.