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 The left-hander earned his second victory as a starter this
season, and the Angels defeated the Miami Marlins 6-1 at Angel
Stadium.
Los Angeles, which earned its third victory in four games, remains
one game ahead of the second-place Oakland Athletics in the American
League West.
Santiago, who lost his first seven decisions, improved his season
record to 4-7. He conceded just three hits, two walks and one run
while striking out six in 5 2/3 innings.
"Everything was working: cutter, slider, changeup, screwball,
sinker, fastball," said Santiago, whose last victory came in relief
July 31. "Throwing everything for a strike, that was the important
part."
Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia offered a more detailed analysis.
"Early on, I thought he really changed speeds well," Scioscia said.
"I thought he had good life on his fastball and great command. He
got it by some good hitters and finished strong."
Center fielder Mike Trout hit his 30th home run to tie his career
high from his rookie season, 2012. Trout joined Jimmie Foxx, Ted
Williams, Jose Canseco and Alex Rodriguez as the only players in
American League history to hit at least 30 homers twice at age 22 or
younger.
"It's always cool to reach 30, but we've got other things on our
minds," Trout said, referring to the Angels' hopes of winning the
American League West.
Trout entered Tuesday night's game in a 5-for-26 slump. However, in
the past two games, he went 5-for-7 with a double, a home run, three
RBIs and four runs.
"I feel good at the plate," Trout said. "I'm not chasing too many
pitches. When I get in trouble, I get anxious and I chase. But in
the last couple of games, I'm feeling good."
Trout's homer, a seventh-inning drive into the cypress trees in
center field, chased Miami starter Henderson Alvarez.
Alvarez (10-6) induced 13 groundouts, struck out three, hit one and
walked just one in 6 1/3 innings. However, the right-hander allowed
five runs on eight hits as his four-game winning streak ended.
With the loss, the Marlins fell five games behind the San Francisco
Giants in the chase for the National League's final wild-card spot.
"We understand that, with a month to go, we've got to step it up,"
Miami manager Mike Redmond said. "We've got to be able to win games
against playoff-caliber teams."
The Marlins took a 1-0 lead when shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria hit
his first home run of the season in the top of the third inning. On
a 3-2 count, Hechavarria sent a 92 mph fastball over the center
field fence.
The Angels moved ahead in the bottom of the third by turning four
hits into three runs against Alvarez.
Second baseman Gordon Beckham hit an infield single, moved to third
base on a hit-and-run single from right fielder Kole Calhoun and
tied the score when Trout lined a single to right field.
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Calhoun went to third on Trout's hit and scored when first baseman Albert
Pujols grounded out. Left fielder Josh Hamilton then pounded a double
off the top of the center field fence to bring home Trout.
"These guys grind you out," Redmond said. "When you get two strikes on
them, they battle and put the ball in play. They have speed. They have
power. They've got it all."
In the fourth, Beckham hit his eighth home run of the season and his
first since the Angels acquired him Thursday from the Chicago White Sox.
Beckham dispatched an 82 mph curveball into the Marlins' left field
bullpen.
The Marlins brought the potential tying run to the plate in the sixth
after first baseman Jeff Baker singled and right fielder Giancarlo
Stanton walked with two outs. Right-hander Kevin Jepsen relieved
Santiago and ended the threat by inducing center fielder Marcell Ozuna
to ground out.
After Trout's seventh-inning homer, Los Angeles scored its final run in
the eighth. Beckham's groundout brought home third baseman John
McDonald, who reached base on right-hander Steve Cishek's fielding error
and moved to third on an error by third baseman Casey McGehee.
NOTES: Wednesday night's game was the Angels' last at home against
competition outside of the American League West. ... Before Wednesday's
loss, Miami owned the best interleague record among National League
teams this season, 13-7. ... The Marlins have not been shut out in 58
consecutive games, the longest active streak in the major leagues. ...
After going 1-for-4 Wednesday, Marlins LF Christian Yelich is hitting
.351 (34-for-97) this month. ... Angels CF Mike Trout, by hitting his
35th double of the season Tuesday night, joined Joe DiMaggio, Orlando
Cepeda, Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols as the only players in major
league history who twice compiled at least 35 doubles and at least 25
home runs in a season before turning 23. ... Commissioner Bud Selig, who
is in his final season on the job, attended the game. ... The announced
attendance was 34,657.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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