Bobby Abreu leads way in Angels’ 6-4 win
If the Angels are to strike any fear into the heart of Texas, which seems poised to run away with the American League West title, they’d better start now, while the getting might be good.
While the Rangers begin an eight-game stretch against AL East powers New York, Tampa Bay and Boston on Tuesday night, the Angels opened a three-game series against the lowly Kansas City Royals with a 6-4 victory Monday night in Angel Stadium.
Bobby Abreu provided the bulk of the offense with a two-run home run and a two-run double, and Ervin Santana rebounded from his worst start of the year with a 61/3-inning, three-run, six-hit effort, as the Angels moved to within 81/2 games of Texas.
The Angels aren’t going to catch the Rangers any time soon, but if they play well at home against the Royals and Toronto Blue Jays this week and Texas runs into some trouble, they could at least put themselves in a position to apply some pressure on the Rangers.
“We know we need to play more consistent baseball, get some momentum going, and it will show up in the win column,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “That has to be our focus, to concentrate on what we need to do and hopefully keep this going.”
Though the Angels (57-57) returned to what many consider mediocrity, a .500 record, they have won three of four games since Abreu, who hit third for most of the season, moved into the leadoff spot.
Abreu, whose .257 average is well below his career mark of .299 going into the season, singled and scored on Hideki Matsui’s groundout in the first inning, drove a two-run double off the right-center field wall in the second and a two-run home run, his 13th of the season, to right-center field in the fourth.
All of his hits came against former Angels right-hander Sean O’Sullivan, who was traded to Kansas City for third baseman Alberto Callaspo on July 22.
“Mike told me to try to do my job, to see what the pitcher has, to get on base, to produce so we can score some runs,” Abreu said. “I used the same approach as when I hit second or third. I normally take some pitches.”
Santana, rocked for nine runs and 12 hits in 32/3 innings of Wednesday’s 9-7 loss in Baltimore, was strong through six innings but tired in the seventh inning, when he gave up two runs.
Fernando Rodney gave up a run in the eighth inning that made it 6-4, and closer Brian Fuentes gave up a walk and a single to open the ninth, but the left-hander retired the next three batters for his 22nd save.
Peter Bourjos, the speedy center fielder called up from triple-A Salt Lake last Tuesday, also shined at times in his Angel Stadium debut.
Bourjos walked and scored from first base on Abreu’s second-inning double and reached on an infield single, stole second and scored on Abreu’s fourth-inning homer.
“On the offensive side, you have to be patient with him, but he has the potential to contribute,” Scioscia said of Bourjos, who is hitting .160 in seven games. “This guy can fly.”
That speed has already made a difference on defense; Bourjos, whose promotion moved nine-time Gold Glove Award winner Torii Hunter from center field to right, made four superb running catches on the last trip.
“The defensive continuity a premium center fielder brings is important,” Scioscia said. “Having Torii in right and Peter in center, we’re going to have a different look to our outfield that will impact what our pitchers can do. Peter can go gap to gap, and he really shrinks the field with his speed.”
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