L.A. ANGELS 3
SEATTLE 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. 鈥� Hector Santiago was slightly taken aback Sunday when a spectator ran onto the field at Angel Stadium and dodged several security officers in the outfield before making his way toward the mound.
鈥淵ou just stand over there and it鈥檚 like, 鈥橶hat is he doing? It鈥檚 too hot for this,鈥� 鈥� Santiago said.
Few pitchers in the American League have been as hot as Santiago, who continued his push for a spot on the All-Star team with his performance in a matchup with Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez.
Santiago鈥檚 workday ended well before the Angels won, 3-2, when Kole Calhoun scored from third base on a 10th-inning wild pitch by reliever Tom Wilhelmsen.
But Santiago, a 27-year-old left-hander, left a terrific impression.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no doubt Hector Santiago is an All-Star-caliber pitcher this year,鈥� Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
Santiago gave up a run and three hits in seven innings. He struck out six batters and lowered his earned-run average to 2.58.
He did not figure in the decision, but if he continues to pitch the way he has lately, he could make it difficult for Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost not to include him on the roster for the July 14 All-Star game at Cincinnati.
Santiago said the key to his success this season was improved mechanics.
鈥淯nderstanding my body, understanding mechanics and just making adjustments,鈥� he said.
On Sunday, Santiago retired the first 10 batters before Franklin Gutierrez singled in the fourth inning.
Santiago appeared a bit unnerved after he failed to get a strike call on a pitch that would have struck out Robinson Cano. Instead, Cano worked a 10-pitch at-bat for a walk, setting the stage for Nelson Cruz鈥檚 double off the wall in the right-field gap for a 1-0 lead.
That was all the Mariners could muster against Santiago while the Angels tried to solve Hernandez, the 2010 Cy Young Award winner who has dominated the Angels the last two seasons.
Hernandez gave up one hit in six scoreless innings.
鈥淗ector matched him pitch for pitch,鈥� Scioscia said.
Whether that kind of performance will be enough to land Santiago on the All-Star team for the first time remains to be seen.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no doubt he鈥檚 throwing the ball as well as the top 10 pitchers in our league ... however you want to slice it up,鈥� Scioscia said. 鈥淏ut the selection process is dicey.鈥�
Santiago is 4-4 but has given up no more than one earned run in nine of his last 14 starts.
Closer Huston Street, who gave up a score-tying home run with two out in the ninth inning, said Santiago was worthy of All-Star consideration 鈥渂ecause it鈥檚 tough to put up the type of numbers he鈥檚 put up this year.鈥�
The Angels鈥� victory improved their record to 39-37 and kept them four games behind first-place Houston in the AL West.
On Monday, the Angels open a three-game series with the New York Yankees, who swept the Angels at Yankee Stadium a few weeks ago.
The Angels then embark on a nine-game trip to Texas, Colorado and Seattle before the All-Star break.
Santiago will probably make two more starts before the All-Star game.
That鈥檚 two more chances to impress.
鈥斺赌斺赌�
ANGELS 3, SEATTLE 2 (10 INNINGS)
KEY MOMENT: With the score tied, 2-2, in the 10th inning, the Angels鈥� Johnny Giavotella and Kole Calhoun hit consecutive singles to put runners at first and third. The Mariners intentionally walked Mike Trout to load the bases for Albert Pujols, who hit into a double play. That brought rookie Kyle Kubitza to the plate. Reliever Tom Wilhelmsen gave the Angels the victory with a wild pitch that allowed Calhoun to score from third. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to take it whether it鈥檚 a wild pitch or a walk-off hit,鈥� manager Mike Scioscia said.
AT THE PLATE: Erick Aybar drove in a run with a seventh-inning pinch-hit single, Calhoun put the Angels ahead with a run-scoring single in the eighth and then singled in the 10th. Efren Navarro had two hits, including the only one against Mariners starter Felix Hernandez, who struck out eight in six shutout innings. Taylor Featherston had an eighth-inning single and scored a run.
ON THE MOUND: Hector Santiago gave up a run and three hits in seven innings before giving way to Joe Smith in the eighth. Huston Street pitched the ninth, but lost a chance for his 22nd save of the season and 297th of his career when he surrendered a two-out solo homer to Kyle Seager. Trevor Gott pitched a scoreless 10th inning for his first victory.
EXTRA BASES: Kubitza was optioned to triple-A Salt Lake after the game. ... The victory marked the Angels鈥� sixth walk-off win of the season. It was their first walk-off victory on a wild pitch since Aug. 10, 2012, in a game that was also against the Mariners. ... The Angels held a team meeting before the game to discuss scouting reports, Scioscia said. Scioscia did not meet with reporters before the game. ... A shirtless fan ran onto the field during the top of the sixth inning and ran toward Angels center fielder Mike Trout. The man evaded about a half-dozen security personnel as he made his way to the front of the mound, where he faked throwing a pitch. He was apprehended in foul territory near the Mariners鈥� first-base dugout.
INJURY REPORT: Aybar was not in the lineup for a second consecutive game because of a left hamstring strain. Scioscia said he would probably be in the lineup Monday. ... Second baseman Robinson Cano was in the lineup for the Mariners. Cano suffered a contusion on Saturday after he was hit in the head by a ball while sitting in the dugout before the top of the seventh inning. He was struck by an errant throw by Featherston during infield warmups. Cano grounded out, walked and struck out twice.
UP NEXT: Left-hander C.J. Wilson (5-6, 3.92 earned-run average) faces Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia (3-7, 5.65) on Monday at 7 p.m. PDT at Angel Stadium.
