ANAHEIM, Calif. — Torii Hunter compared himself to Kobe Bryant after hitting three home runs in a game for the first time in his big league career.

"It's like you're in a zone. And when you're in a zone, a lot of good things can happen," said Hunter, whose three consecutive solo shots helped power the Los Angeles Angels to a 9-1 victory over the San Diego Padres last night.

"Tonight I felt like Kobe. When Kobe's in a zone, he's hitting everything. And now I know how it feels. That was a lot of fun."

Joe Saunders (7-4) came within two outs of his third career complete game and second this season. The left-hander allowed a run and eight hits, striking out five before manager Mike Scioscia lifted him after a season-high 113 pitches with two runners on base.

Kendry Morales and Jeff Mathis also went deep for the Angels.

Hunter was left on deck when Bobby Abreu struck out to end the bottom of the eighth inning, costing him a chance at tying the big league record for home runs in a game.

"I was cheering for him.," Hunter said. "I was like: "Come on, baby! Get a hit. Stay in there. Foul him off.' I was screaming at him, and he was looking back at me like: 'I'm trying!' But it just didn't work out for me."

Hunter became the 12th player in Angels history to homer three times in a game, and the first to do it since Garret Anderson in 2003 against the Montreal Expos in Puerto Rico.

Hunter put the Angels ahead 4-0 when he led off the third with a drive over the left-field fence against Josh Geer (1-2). He made it 5-0 in the fifth with a two-out drive.

In the seventh, Hunter connected against lefty Joe Thatcher and was urged out of the dugout by the crowd of 43,233 to take a curtain call.

DODGERS 3, RANGERS 1:

A power outage helped put an end to Texas' shutout streak, and keep visiting Los Angeles from its first three-game losing skid of the season. The Dodgers scored immediately after a one-hour, 41-minute delay because of a light failure, and Matt Kemp later hit a two-run homer. Juan Pierre singled off reliever Eddie Guardado to start the sixth when play resumed. He went to third on a stolen base and throwing error and scored on Rafael Furcal's grounder to end Texas' scoreless streak at 24 innings.

METS 6, YANKEES 2:

Fernando Nieve earned his first major league victory in three years, Omir Santos drove in three runs and the visiting Mets bounced back from a discouraging loss. Nieve (1-0) allowed two runs and four hits over 6 2/3 innings. The Mets lost, 9-8, Friday night when second baseman Luis Castillo dropped Alex Rodriguez's two-out popup in the ninth, allowing two runs to score.

RED SOX 11, PHILLIES 6:

Jason Bay and Jacoby Ellsbury homered, Julio Lugo had four hits, and visiting Boston beat Philadelphia. Hideki Okajima (3-0) allowed one run in two innings to earn the victory. Raul Ibanez hit his 22nd homer, and Pedro Feliz and Jayson Werth also connected for the Phillies.

MARLINS 6, BLUE JAYS 5:

Cody Ross homered and doubled twice to help rookie Sean West get his second major league win for visiting Florida. West (2-1) allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings. In his previous start, he pitched eight shutout innings to beat San Francisco.

ORIOLES 8, BRAVES 4:

Brian Roberts had four hits, including a double that highlighted a six-run rally in the seventh, for host Baltimore. A wild pitch, an error and two walks helped the Orioles' rally. Baltimore's Brian Bass (4-1) allowed two hits in three innings.

WHITE SOX 7, BREWERS 1:

Jose Contreras allowed two hits over eight scoreless innings and visiting Chicago battered Manny Parra (3-8) with a six-run outburst in the second. Contreras (2-5) struck out eight and walked two, using his array of arm angles and breaking pitches to frustrate the free-swinging Brewers.

TWINS 2, CUBS 0:

Rookie Anthony Swarzak (2-2) scattered four hits over seven innings and Jason Kubel homered for visiting Minnesota. Kubel led off the second with his 11th homer and Joe Maurer singled in a run in the third.

CARDINALS 3, INDIANS 1:

Albert Pujols hit two home runs to lead visiting St. Louis over Cleveland. Pujols' 27th multihomer game and fourth this season helped Brad Thompson (1-2) get his first win since St. Louis' final game in 2008. Thompson allowed three hits in six innings.

PIRATES 9, TIGERS 3:

Freddy Sanchez hit a grand slam in the fourth and Adam LaRoche added a solo home run for host Pittsburgh. Zach Duke (7-4) won for the fourth time in his last five decisions. He gave up three runs in eight innings.

ROYALS 7, REDS 4:

Willie Bloomquist had three hits and three RBIs, and Billy Butler had three hits and drove in two runs for host Kansas City. The Royals won back-to-back games for the first time since May 17-19.

ROCKIES 5, MARINERS 3:

Chris Iannetta broke a tie with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning and host Colorado ran its winning streak to 10. Clint Barmes also drove in a run with a fly ball in a two-run ninth inning off Mark Lowe (0-4).

RAYS 8, NATIONALS 3:

Ben Zobrist and Gabe Gross homered during a seven-run sixth inning for host Tampa Bay. Andy Sonnanstine (5-6), who retired 15 batters in a row at one point, gave up three runs and six hits over 7 1/3 innings.

GIANTS 5, ATHLETICS 2:

Randy Johnson allowed four hits over seven strong innings to earn his 301st victory, and Juan Uribe drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning for host San Francisco. Baldwin High alum Kurt Suzuki hit a solo homer off Johnson (6-5) in the fourth.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ASTROS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 4:

Lance Berkman hit his 300th homer moments after Miguel Tejada singled home a run with his 2,000th hit, and visiting Houston beat Arizona. Roy Oswalt (3-3) gave up one run and five hits in seven innings for Houston.