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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Angels whip out bats in 9-7 victory


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Angels center fielder Torii Hunter bruised his ribs after crashing into the outfield wall in the fourth inning trying to make a catch. X-rays were normal.

BEN MARGOT | Associated Press

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SAN FRANCISCO — The outfield flags whipped in the wind and it sure looked like a night when the ball might carry. Sure enough, seven home runs sailed over the fences.

Erick Aybar and Bobby Abreu hit back-to-back homers, John Lackey ended a four-start winless stretch and the Los Angeles Angels beat the San Francisco Giants, 9-7, last night for their fourth straight victory.

Aybar hit a two-run homer before Abreu connected in the Angels' seven-run fourth. Robb Quinlan singled in two runs, Mike Napoli added an RBI double and Lackey even singled in a run for his first major league hit and RBI.

Juan Rivera and Sean Rodriguez also went deep for Los Angeles, which has 13 home runs in its last four games.

"I don't think it's a fluke," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We've been saying all along we felt we had more power potential on this team than we were showing. These last four games it's showing up in a big way."

San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth to go with a solo shot an inning earlier, his first career multi-homer game. Brian Fuentes entered and got pinch-hitter Rich Aurilia on a flyout for his 17th save.

Lackey (2-2) struck out a season-high 10 in seven innings and won for the first time since May 18 against Seattle.

BREWERS 14, INDIANS 12

Prince Fielder hit a go-ahead grand slam in Milwaukee's six-run eighth inning and the Brewers rallied to beat host Cleveland.

Fielder finished with a career-high six RBIs for the NL Central-leading Brewers, who won for just the second time in their last eight games. Ryan Braun homered and drove in five runs.

Todd Coffey (2-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up the win and Trevor Hoffman got three outs for his 16th save.

Victor Martinez, Shin-Soo Choo, Mark DeRosa and Travis Hafner homered for Cleveland. Hafner's three-run shot in the sixth gave the Indians a 12-8 lead.

Milwaukee rallied in the eighth, taking advantage when Cleveland relievers Luis Vizcaino and Matt Herges walked the bases loaded. Rafael Perez (1-2) replaced Herges after Braun's infield single cut the Indians' lead to 12-9.

Fielder hit Perez's first pitch into the seats in right-center field for his 16th homer and first career slam.

RAYS

RELIEVER ISRINGHAUSEN OUT

Tampa Bay reliever Jason Isringhausen will miss the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his surgically repaired right elbow.

The 36-year-old right-hander was injured while throwing a pitch during the eighth inning of Saturday night's victory over the Washington Nationals. An MRI exam yesterday found a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament.

Isringhausen will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the current damage. He was 0-1 with a 2.29 ERA in nine appearances this year.

INDIANS

SIZEMORE NEARS RETURN

Grady Sizemore could be off the disabled list and back in the Cleveland lineup in seven to 10 days.

An MRI exam yesterday on the All-Star center fielder's ailing left elbow revealed much of the inflammation that's hampered him since spring training has subsided.

Sizemore will test the elbow with more swings and throws today, and he will be evaluated daily.

As long as it doesn't get any worse, Sizemore said he could play the rest of the season with the pain he has now.