Angels Complete Sweep of Tigers

A dominating sweep by the Los Angeles Angels left a strong impression on the defending American League champion Detroit Tigers. <br/><br/>Gary Matthews Jr. drove in three runs, Garret Anderson and Casey

Monday, July 30th 2007, 7:36 am

By: News On 6

A dominating sweep by the Los Angeles Angels left a strong impression on the defending American League champion Detroit Tigers.

Gary Matthews Jr. drove in three runs, Garret Anderson and Casey Kotchman each had two RBIs, and Los Angeles completed the three-game sweep with a 13-4 victory Sunday.

``The Angels are playing well right now and they're doing all the right things to win ballgames,'' Sheffield said. ``Regardless of how many they score, we always feel like we're going to come back. But when they keep tacking on, it makes it that much more difficult.''

Los Angeles outscored Detroit 34-13 in the series, and had at least 10 runs in three consecutive games for the second time in the franchise's 47-year history _ the first time against one opponent.

``I think we're a good team,'' Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. ``I think you saw two good teams. One of them was playing good and one of them wasn't. Obviously, the one that was, swept the series and the other one got swept.''

With their fourth straight home win, the Angels improved to a league-best 35-16 in their home ballpark.

``We've played well at home all year, and I expect us to because we've got a track record now,'' Matthews said. ``Garret's been hot this month now that he's healthy again, and he's really seemed to bring a presence and some balance to the lineup.''

In other AL games, it was: Tampa Bay 5, Boston 2; Minnesota 4, Cleveland 1; Seattle 14, Oakland 10; New York Yankees 10, Baltimore 6; Toronto 4, Chicago White Sox 1; and Kansas City 10, Texas 0.

Dustin Moseley threw 87 pitches and came within one out of the required five innings for a victory. The right-hander was pulled with a 12-2 lead after loading the bases with a walk to Gary Sheffield.

``We had a range for Dustin, as far as pitch count, and he got to the higher end of the range. So that was enough,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``We were looking at anywhere from 75 to possible 90 pitches as a last resort _ if he was maintaining his stuff.''

Craig Monroe greeted Chris Bootcheck (3-2) with a two-run single _ with both runs charged to Moseley. It was the only hit Bootcheck allowed in 2 1-3 innings.

Jeremy Bonderman (10-3) lost his second straight start after winning 10 of his previous 11 decisions. He retired only seven of the 20 batters he faced in his shortest outing of the season, surrendering 11 runs _ 10 earned _ and nine hits in 2 1-3 innings.

The Angels scored four runs in the first on Kotchman's sacrifice fly, a two-run triple by Matthews and an RBI double by Maicer Izturis. Los Angeles then scored twice in the second _ both on wild pitches with Anderson at the plate.

The Angels put it away with six runs in the third. Izturis scored when Bonderman fielded Reggie Willits' sacrifice bunt and threw the ball past first base. Chone Figgins then had an RBI single. Anderson hit a two-run single off reliever Chad Durbin, and Kotchman made it 12-1 with a fielder's choice grounder.

Devil Rays 5, Red Sox 2

At St. Petersburg, Fla., Dioner Navarro, B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena homered during a five-run seventh inning as the Devil Rays stopped an eight-game losing streak.

Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka (12-8) took a six-hit shutout into the seventh before being lifted after allowing Navarro's solo homer on an 0-2 pitch and a single to Josh Wilson with one out.

Gary Glover (4-3) pitched 2 1-3 innings to get the win despite allowing homers to Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis in the eighth.

Twins 4, Indians 1

Josh Barfield made two errors on one play to help visiting Minnesota score the go-ahead run in the eighth inning.

Dennys Reyes (2-1) pitched 1 1-3 innings to get the win and Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his 22nd save.

Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia (13-6) tied a career high with 11 strikeouts, but lost for the fourth time in five starts in July.

Mariners 14, Athletics 10

Ben Broussard, playing for the ejected Richie Sexson, hit a two-run homer in the seventh to tie it, and Jason Ellison scored the go-ahead run on an errant throw an inning later for host Seattle.

Kenji Johjima led off the bottom of the eighth with a double just fair down the left-field line off Huston Street (2-2). Jose Lopez laid down a bunt to advance pinch-runner Ellison him to third, but Street threw the ball wide to first, allowing pinch-Ellison to race.

Sean Green (4-1) pitched the eighth inning for the win.

Yankees 10, Orioles 6

Johnny Damon had three hits, scored four runs and had two RBIs, and visiting New York ended Baltimore's six-game winning streak.

Alex Rodriguez, seeking his 500th home run, went 0-for-2 with a run-scoring grounder and three walks for the Yankees. Chien-Ming Wang (12-5) gave up three runs and nine hits in six innings to help New York pull within four of the wild-card lead.

Daniel Cabrera (7-11) allowed four runs, six hits and five walks in six innings.

Blue Jays 4, White Sox 1

Lyle Overbay broke a scoreless tie with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning for visiting Toronto, which has won six of its last eight.

Shaun Marcum (7-4) gave up two hits and struck out eight in eight innings to outpitch Chicago's Javier Vazquez (8-6). Jeremy Accardo pitched a scoreless ninth for his 17th save.

Royals 10, Rangers 0

Leo Nunez (1-0) gave up three singles in six scoreless innings in his second major league start as host Kansas City completed a three-game sweep.

Joel Peralta gave up two hits over the final three innings to get his second career save.

Texas' Kameron Loe (5-9) allowed six runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings.