TORONTO — Slowed by injuries at the start of the season, Los Angeles Angels right-hander Ervin Santana is finishing strong.
Backed by home runs from Vladimir Guerrero and Juan Rivera, Santana won his fourth consecutive start and the Angels beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-3 on Saturday.
"When he's hitting his spots at 93-94 [mph] with that power breaking ball, that's a terrific combination and that's what you're seeing on a consistent basis," Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said.
Guerrero broke a 3-3 tie with a home run in the sixth inning and Rivera provided some insurance with a two-run drive in the eighth as the AL West leaders avoided their first three-game losingstreak since June 20-22. Los Angeles is the only team in the majors that hasn't lost four consecutive all season.
Toronto has dropped eight of 10 and is nine games below .500, matching a season low.
Santana (7-6) allowed 3 runs and 7 hits in 6 innings, walked 4 and struck out 3. The right-hander, 5-0 in his past six road starts, said an improved change-up has been a big part of his recent success.
"It's getting better," Santana said. "Last year it was too hard and this year it's getting to where we want to. It's more off-speed, the velocity is different."
Starting for the first time since Aug. 11, Blue Jays rookie right-hander Scott Richmond (6-7) allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings. Richmond walked three and struck out 10, his second game with at least 10.
INDIANS 4, MARINERS 3
Luis Valbuena homered with two out in the 11th inning to give Cleveland a victory over visiting Seattle.
RAYS 5, RANGERS 4
Carlos Pena homered twice and drove in the winning run with an RBI single in the 10th inning, giving Tampa Bay a victory overvisiting Texas.
RED SOX 14, YANKEES 1
In Boston, Kevin Youkilis homered twice and tied a career high with six RBI as the Red Sox broke a five-game skid against New York. The Red Sox set a team record with their eighth consecutive multiple-home run game and have 39 home runs in August with eight games left.
TWINS 8, ROYALS 7
Jason Kubel drove in three runs and Brian Duensing (1-1), with the help of four relievers, earned his first major league victory as visiting Minnesota held on for a victory over Kansas City.
WHITE SOX 4, ORIOLES 1
In Chicago, Carlos Quentin homered, John Danks (11-8) pitched into the seventh inning and the White Sox beat Baltimore.
National League ASTROS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 2 In Houston, Brian Moehler (8-9) won for the first time in more than a month and the Astros beat visiting Arizona. The Diamondbacks have lost seven in a row, their longest skid since dropping seven in a row in June 2006.
BRAVES 4, MARLINS 3 Rookie Tommy Hanson (9-2) won his fourth consecutive start in August, pitching a combined four-hitter with two relievers, and Atlanta beat visiting Florida.
BREWERS 11, NATIONALS 9
Mike Cameron homered and drove in three runs, Casey McGehee singled home the tie-breaking run in the sixth inning and visiting Milwaukee recovered from blowing a seven-run lead for a victory against Washington.
DODGERS 2, CUBS 0
Charlie Haeger baffled the Cubs with his knuckleball, Matt Kemp and Casey Blake homered, and Los Angeles defeated visiting Chicago.
PHILLIES 4, METS 1
Chase Utley hit a tworun home run as part of a three-run sixth inning and visiting Philadelphia took advantage of New York's bullpen. After Tim Redding held the Phillies to one hit through five shutout innings in a spot start, Philadelphia broke out against relievers Pat Misch and Sean Green. Misch (0-1) walked Shane Victorino leading off the sixth and then gave up a long home run to right to Utley.
PIRATES 12, REDS 2
Ryan Doumit homered, doubled and drove in three runs to give Zach Duke some run support and Pittsburgh pushed visiting Cincinnati into last place in the NL Central.
ROCKIES 14, GIANTS 11
In Denver, Ian Stewart and Todd Helton homered in Colorado's seven-run sixth inning and the Rockies rallied to beat San Francisco to take a two-game lead in the NL wild-card race.
Saturday's games NATIONAL LEAGUE LA Dodgers 2, Chicago Cubs 0 Houston 4, Arizona 2 Pittsburgh 12, Cincinnati 2 Milwaukee 11, Washington 9 Atlanta 4, Florida 3 Philadelphia 4, NY Mets 1 Colorado 14, San Francisco 11 St. Louis at San Diego, (n) AMERICAN LEAGUE LA Angels 7, Toronto 3 Boston 14, NY Yankees 1 Chicago White Sox 4, Baltimore 1 Cleveland 4, Seattle 3, 11 innings Tampa Bay 5, Texas 4, 10 innings Minnesota 8, Kansas City 7 Oakland 3, Detroit 2
Sports, Pages 30 on 08/23/2009