Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) – Mike Napoli’s three-run shot in the fourth put the Angels ahead for good, as Los Angeles defeated the Colorado Rockies, 10-3, in the rubber match of a three-game interleague set.
Napoli’s 13th home run of the season in a four-run inning helped the Angels win their seventh game out of 10 and third straight interleague series. Brandon Wood added his first career grand slam in a five-run eighth.
Ervin Santana (8-5) earned the win after allowing three runs, eight hits and a walk while fanning seven in 6 2/3 solid frames.
Ian Stewart homered for the Rockies, who have lost three of four. Carlos Gonzalez added three hits, and Clint Barmes went 2-for-4 with an RBI in defeat.
Jhoulys Chacin (4-7) gave up five runs in six innings, although just two were earned. He struck out a career-high 12 while allowing five hits and three walks in the outing.
The Rockies grabbed the early lead on Stewart’s solo homer in the second and Jason Giambi’s RBI double in the fourth, but the Angels went in front for good in the home fourth.
With one down, Bobby Abreu tripled to left before a two-out rally netted four runs. Two batters later, Hideki Matsui singled to score Abreu, and Juan Rivera reached on a fielding error to keep the inning alive. Napoli made Colorado pay, launching a three-run homer to left for a 4-2 advantage.
In the fifth, Howie Kendrick’s double play groundout plated another run, although the Rockies remained within two on Barmes’ RBI single in the seventh.
The visitors would get no closer, however, as Kevin Jepsen pitched around a two-out infield single in a scoreless eighth. The Angels broke the game wide open in the home half on Rivera’s RBI double and Wood’s grand slam.
With a seven-run lead at that point, the outcome was all but sealed.
The Angels are 17-8 in June and 11-7 in interleague play…Chacin has lost five of his last six decisions…Wood notched his third home run of the season, while Abreu’s triple was his first…Colorado went 9-6 in interleague play.