Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) – Jonathan Herrera had three hits and drove in the game-winning run in the 11th inning, as the Colorado Rockies rallied to beat the LA Angels, 4-3, in the first of three games at Angel Stadium.
Chris Iannetta added a two-run homer for the Rockies, who have won six of eight. Carlos Gonzalez also drove in a run in the victory.
Jeff Francis didn’t factor into the decision, giving up three runs, seven hits and a walk in 6 1/3 frames. Matt Belisle (3-3) allowed one hit in 2 2/3 innings to earn the win, and Manuel Corpas picked up his 10th save.
“You can’t say enough about Herrera. He strikes out his first three times then he gets three straight hits and drives in the winning run,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “A real nice win for us. We won together as a team.”
Jered Weaver was denied the win for the Angels after yielding two runs and five hits in seven innings while fanning 11. The righty now has the major league lead in strikeouts with 118 after his third double-digit strikeout effort.
Kevin Frandsen and Mike Napoli each had two hits and a run scored in defeat, the Angels’ second straight after winning five of six.
“A great game, overall,” Weaver said. “I made one bad pitch to Iannetta — a slider that didn’t slide. I have to work on getting my pitch count down. We went ahead but just couldn’t hold the lead.”
The Rockies broke the tie in the 11th off Francisco Rodriguez (0-1).
The first two batters were retired, but Iannetta kept the frame alive with a double down the left field line. Pinch-hitter Melvin Mora worked a walk before Herrera sent a 3-2 pitch through the infield’s left side for a single that plated Iannetta for a 4-3 advantage.
Bobby Abreu singled off Belisle to start the home 11th for the Angels, and Torii Hunter, facing Corpas, just missed a 3-1 fastball, instead flying out weakly to left. Abreu stole second, and Juan Rivera walked. Abreu went to third when Napoli narrowly beat out a potential double-play groundout, leaving runners at the corners and two outs, but Jeff Mathis grounded out to second to end the game.
Los Angeles got on the board in the second, as Rivera singled, moved to third on a Napoli base hit and scored on Mathis’ sacrifice fly.
The Rockies, though, grabbed the lead on Iannetta’s two-run homer in the fifth.
The Angels were able to rally with single runs in both the sixth and seventh.
Kevin Frandsen doubled with one down in the sixth inning, and Hunter tied the game with another two-base hit — this one with two outs.
Mike Napoli began the seventh with a single off Francis and advanced to second on a sacrifice. Reggie Willits lined a single to center, scoring Napoli for a 3-2 lead and ending Francis’ outing.
Weaver came out after the seventh, but Fernando Rodney couldn’t protect the lead.
Herrera began the frame with a bloop single to right and scampered to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Carlos Gonzalez lined a single to right to plate Herrera for a 3-3 game.
The Rockies loaded the bases in the 10th with two outs, but Ryan Spilborghs struck out looking to end the threat.
The Angels fell to 32-11 when scoring first and 12-8 in one-run games…Los Angeles won last year’s season series, 2-1…Iannetta notched only his third home run and second double of the season…Gonzalez recorded his 10th stolen base.