Aug 11, 2007, 5:30 GMT
Anaheim, CA - Maicer Izturis hit his first career grand slam, and Kelvim Escobar hurled six solid innings as the LA Angels of Anaheim dumped Minnesota, 10-1, in the opener of a three-game set.
Izturis finished 1-for-2 and also scored a pair of runs for the Angels, who have won four of five games and extended their lead in the AL West to 3 1/2 games.
'That's not my game but I'll take it,' Izturis said of his grand slam. 'Even in the batting cage I don't hit home runs. I was looking for something waist up and I got the meat of the bat on it.'
Escobar (12-6) allowed just one run on five hits in six innings to halt a personal three-game losing streak.
'I didn't feel like I had my best stuff but I battled,' Escobar said. 'Our offense really stepped up and I am happy for Maicer.'
Chone Figgins, Casey Kotchman and Reggie Willits each chipped in with two hits and an RBI for LA.
Rondell White was 1-for-4 and drove in a run for the Twins, who have dropped four of five.
Scott Baker (6-5) was touched for six runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings en route to the loss.
The Angels took an early 2-0 lead in the third. Willits led off with a walk, moved to second on Figgins' single and scored on Orlando Cabrera's base hit. Figgins then crossed the plate on Vladimir Guerrero's 6-4-3 double-play.
The Twins finally got to Escobar in the sixth with a two-out rally. Torii Hunter got on with an infield single, moved to second when Jason Kubel walked and scored on White's RBI single to make it a 2-1 game.
LA answered and broke things open in the bottom half. The Angels loaded the bases with one down on a pair of singles by Garret Anderson and Gary Matthews Jr. along with a walk to Kotchman. Izturis then turned on a Baker fastball and deposited the ball in the right field stands for a grand slam.
The Angels really broke things open with four more runs in the seventh. With runners on at first and second and one down, Kotchman slapped an RBI single to left off Carmen Cali. The runners moved up a base on a wild pitch before Cali intentionally walked Izturis to load the bases. The Twins then went to Ramon Ortiz but the move backfired when Jeff Mathis and Willits came through with consecutive RBI singles. Figgins finally capped the frame with a sacrifice fly to right.
Game Notes
Escobar is 7-3 in 12 home starts this season and is now 6-6 in 17 career games against Minnesota...LA now leads the season series between the two teams, 4-3...Guerrero committed his seventh error in the outfield this season.
© 2007 The Sports Network
Game Notes.
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