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 Howie Kendrick's bloop single to shallow right field with the
bases loaded was perfectly placed on the right field line, driving
in two runs during a three-run sixth inning and lifting the Angels
to a 4-3 win Wednesday night at Angel Stadium.
The Angels gained a game on the American League West-leading Oakland
A's, who lost 3-0 to the Kansas City Royals. Los Angeles (70-49) is
2 1/2 games back.
The Angels managed just six hits against Phillies starter A.J.
Burnett and two Phillies relievers, but starter Jered Weaver and the
Los Angeles bullpen, once given a lead, locked it down.
"I don't know if our offense has to be as hot as it was for the 20
games before the All-Star break, but there has to be some middle
ground from where we were then to where we are now," Angels manager
Mike Scioscia said. "Keeping our heads just above water since the
All-Star break has been purely our pitching staff and primarily our
bullpen. At some point, we have to give our pitchers a little
breathing room."
Weaver gave up two runs on eight hits and two walks in six innings
before handing the ball over to the bullpen for the final three
innings.
Kevin Jepsen (seventh inning), Joe Smith (eighth) and Huston Street
(ninth) combined to finish it off. Smith gave up a run, but Street
earned his 31st save of the season, his seventh with the Angels.
"Our job as pitchers is to keep this offense in the game and give us
a chance to win," Weaver said. "And with the bullpen we've got,
quality starts from the starting pitcher are pretty key. If you can
limit those guys to three runs in six innings, we've got those guys
coming in behind us doing a heck of a job. Just trying to keep us in
it, and you know the offense is going to break through one of these
days."
The Los Angeles hitters broke through in the sixth, sort of, getting
a little help from Burnett.
First baseman Albert Pujols got the rally started with a one-out
double. Left fielder Josh Hamilton was hit by a pitch, and shortstop
Erick Aybar walked, loading the bases for Kendrick.
The second baseman muscled an inside pitch into shallow right field,
with the ball landing on the foul line.
"The walk actually ended up to be the winning run," Phillies manager
Ryne Sandberg said. "The hit-by-pitch, the walk, the bloop hit, the
fielder's choice ... a crooked number in the sixth, two nights in a
row.
"(Burnett) is just not making the opposition earn their baserunners.
And sometimes when those add up with a hit or two, they find a way
to score."
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Though the Angels did not pound the ball, they put together good
situational at-bats. Designated hitter Brennan Boesch finished hitless,
but he drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly and a fielder's choice
grounder.
The Phillies had 11 hits, including three by catcher Carlos Ruiz. They
had chances but went 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position and
stranded nine.
"We had baserunners, we out-hit them 11-6, we had some baserunners but
were not able to come up with the big bat to put up a crooked number,"
Sandberg said. "I attribute that to some good pitching. Weaver mixed
speeds real well, added a little on, took a little off."
The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Aybar led off with a
double. Kendrick sacrificed Aybar to third, and Boesch drove him in with
a sacrifice fly.
The Phillies (53-68) got even at 1-1 in the third inning. Shortstop
Jimmy Rollins led off with a single, stole second and third and scored
on a single by designated hitter Marlon Byrd.
Philadelphia took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning. Ruiz led off with a
single and scored on a two-out single by Rollins.
NOTES: Phillies 1B Ryan Howard, 2B Chase Utley and SS Jimmy Rollins
started together for the 893rd regular-season game. It is the most by a
trio at those positions for the same team in major league history. They
broke the record of 886 games previously held by Los Angeles Dodgers 1B
Steve Garvey, 2B Davey Lopes and SS Bill Russell. ... Angels RHP Kevin
Jepsen leads the majors with 54 scoreless appearances in 58 outings.
After giving up five runs on Opening Day, Jepsen allowed five runs total
in his next 57 outings. ... Utley has 11 hits in his past 21 at-bats
with runners in scoring position (.524). Overall, he is hitting .308
(37-for-120) with RISP this season after he popped out with a man on
second in the seventh inning Wednesday.
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reserved.]
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