Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS - John Lackey pitched seven strong
innings, and Jose Guillen's tiebreaking two-run single
in the eighth sent the Anaheim Angels to a 3-1 victory
over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.

Troy Percival retired Henry Blanco on a routine fly
with the bases loaded to end it. Chone Figgins tripled
and scored in the first inning for the surging Angels,
who have won eight of 10. Their 11-5 road record is
the best in the major leagues.

Michael Cuddyer homered for Minnesota, its only run in
the last two games.

Lackey (2-3) allowed six hits in seven innings,
striking out five for his second straight win. Twins
starter Johan Santana also went seven innings, giving
up a run on five hits, with two walks and six
strikeouts.

Anaheim's Francisco Rodriguez pitched a perfect
eighth, and Percival worked the ninth for his seventh
save in eight chances.

With runners on second and third and two outs, Guillen
fell behind 0-2 against reliever J.C. Romero (1-1).
After taking two more close pitches for balls, Guillen
punched a fastball to right field to drive in both
runners.

The teams locked in a tight game for the second
straight day. Anaheim won 1-0 Saturday with a run in
the ninth inning, but took only two batters to score
another run Sunday. Figgins led off with a triple to
left-center, and Darin Erstad's hard grounder to first
base drove in the run.

Minnesota countered in the fourth when Cuddyer's homer
tied it. His second of the year was a 425-foot shot to
center.

Notes: @ Minnesota's Luis Rivas snapped an 0-for-23
skid with an infield single in the third inning. ...
Twins LF Shannon Stewart was scratched from his second
consecutive start with a sore left wrist. ... Figgins
started in place of SS David Eckstein, who hasn't
played since straining his groin Tuesday in Detroit.
... The Angels finished their nine-game road trip with
a 7-2 record, sweeping Oakland and winning two of
three against both Detroit and Minnesota.

Boxscore:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores104/104123/20040502AL---MINNESOTA-0.htm

May. 02, 2004




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