Ervin Santana’s pitching helps Los Angeles Angels defeat Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 - MLB Update
Los Angeles Angels’ starter, Ervin Santana had a remarkable day with the ball as he struck-out six batters in his nine inning pitched and gave the Angels a 5-1 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, Toronto on August 12.
During the first inning, the batters struggled and did not add any run into their team’s score-card. At first base, Erick Aybar grounded out, at centre-field Alberto Callaspo flied out and at third base Bobby Abreu popped out without taking any run. Similarly,
the Blue Jays’ batters also seemed powerless at the bottom of first inning as Eric Thames drove a single-run shot to left-field but at short-stop position Yunel Escobar grounded out.
Angels led off with 1-0 at the top of second inning when Vernon Wells hit a one-run homer (410 feet) to left-centre. In third inning, the Angels added three runs to raise their lead 4-0. Peter Bourjos scored one run when Callaspo hit a single-run drive to
right-field and then advanced to second base on a throwing error of Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista.
The second and third runs for Angels were taken by Callaspo and Abreu when Torii Hunter doubled off deep right-field. In the fourth and fifth inning, the pitchers laboured well to throw their pitches in accurate line and limited the shots of the batters.
Santana surrendered seven hits, one run, two walks and one earned run with an ERA of 3.10. He gave up just one homer on his 102 pitches.
Sixth inning was also in favour of Angels as they contributed one run to their score-card to move it 5-0. Russell Branyan drove a double-run shot to deep right-field and Hunter posted a single run on a throwing error of Bautista to give the Angels a convincing
lead. The batters were struck-out and grounded out during seventh and eighth inning and failed to put runs on the score-board.
Angels’ manager, Mike Scioscia praised Santana in his statement as, “That's a deep offensive lineup. They've got power all the way through the lineup and he kept them in check. Just a great game from Ervin.”
In the ninth inning, Thames struck a solo homer (427 feet) towards right-centre to contribute the first run for the Blue Jays and reduced their lead 5-1. However, Angels were on top with 1-0 lead in the three-game series, at Toronto.
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