Oakland, CA - Vladimir Guerrero broke out of his homer-less streak in a big way, going deep twice to propel the LA Angels of Anaheim past the Oakland A’s, 6-4, in the first of four meetings at McAfee Coliseum.
Guerrero finished with four RBI and Reggie Willits scored and knocked in a run for the Angels, who have won six of their last eight. Guerrero had not homered since June 23, a stretch of 30 games.
Joe Saunders (5-0) tossed 6 2/3 quality innings, allowing two runs on six hits.
Chad Gaudin (8-7) took the loss after surrendering five runs over six-plus frames for Oakland, which has dropped five of seven. Mark Ellis and Donnie Murphy both homered in a losing cause.
Guerrero opened up the scoring in the fourth with a leadoff homer, his 15th long ball of the year.
Ellis quickly countered with a solo home run of his own in the bottom of the inning.
Guerrero, though, fired right back in the fifth. After singles by Willits and Chone Figgins, Guerrero drilled Gaudin’s offering over the wall in left-center for a 4-1 Angels advantage.
Oakland sliced the lead to two runs in the home-half of the inning on an RBI single by Nick Swisher.
Garret Anderson built the Angels lead back up to three runs in the seventh with a two-out double that plated Orlando Cabrera.
Murphy’s two-out, two-run home run in the ninth moved the A’s within 6-4. Francisco Rodriguez came in and recorded the final out, however, for his 26th save of the season.
Game Notes
This was Guerrero’s first multi-HR game of the year…Saunders won his seventh straight decision…Figgins is batting .411 since June 1, the best in the majors…Gaudin is 0-4 with a 7.81 ERA since the All-Star break…Ellis now has 14 home runs, which is a career high.
