The Los Angeles Angels proved once again they have few deficiencies. Casey Kotchman drove in three runs, including two in a six-run seventh inning, as the Los Angeles Angels recorded its biggest comeback of the season in a 10-6 win over St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.
The Angeles fell behind 4-0 before scoring nine unanswered runs to move a season-best 16 games over .500.
"They've got a complete ballclub," St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. "They're a good ball club and it's fun to play them."
The Angels showed their typically aggressive style by breaking open the game open in the seventh. They used 10 batters and had seven hits against three St. Louis pitchers. The first six batters reached by way of hits and all six eventually scored.
Even when they didn't get solid hits, the ball fell in the perfect spot. Kotchman's two-run single was a bloop down the left field line that scored Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson.
"Anytime we can come back from a deficit, it's a matter of executing swings and getting base runners on," Kotchman said.
Cardinals reliever Tyler Johnson (1-1) started the inning and faced just four batters. He gave up three singles _ including Kotchman's two-run single _ and a double. Johnson failed to record an out before being lifted.
"I just left it get out of control," said Johnson, who had surrendered four runs in 7 1-3 innings before Friday's game. "My slider was flat and I faced some good hitters and they beat me."
The Angels tied the game 3-3 in the fifth on a two-run single by Guerrero. He finished 2-for-4 and has 17 hits in his past 41 at-bats.
Chone Figgins extended his hitting streak with a single in the first and
finished with three singles and three stolen bases. Howie Kendrick also had
three hits, including two doubles, and Anderson had three hits.
