Bourjos' home run ends rut - Los Angeles Times
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Bourjos’ home run ends rut

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Peter Bourjos, the youngest among them, spared the Angels the indignity of a franchise record for futility with a home run to lead off the sixth inning Monday night.

So inspired were his veteran teammates that they added two homers in the inning, a solo shot by Bobby Abreu and a two-run blast by Hideki Matsui that propelled the Angels to a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Safeco Field.

Ervin Santana (14-9) gave up two runs and eight hits in 72/3 innings, striking out four and walking none, to help the Angels end a losing streak at three games.

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Fernando Rodney, in his first save opportunity since closer Brian Fuentes was traded to Minnesota on Friday, gave up a run in the ninth on a walk, a double and a wild pitch, but held on for his seventh save.

David Pauley blanked the Angels on two hits through five innings, pushing to 31 the Angels’ streak of consecutive innings without a run, two shy of the club record, set in 1963 and tied in 2004.

“We didn’t want to be any part of that,” right fielder Torii Hunter said. “It was a rough weekend.”

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But Bourjos opened the sixth with his second big league homer, a shot to center field, to give the Angels their first run since Abreu scored on a balk in the first inning of Friday night’s 3-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

“We were shocked,” Hunter said. “We were like, ‘Whoa!’ He went dead center in a park that is tough to hit a home run in. He sparked us today.”

Abreu sent his 16th homer over the wall in center field for a 2-0 lead, Hunter reached on an infield single and Matsui drove his 17th homer into the second deck in right field, a ball hit so hard and far that right fielder Ichiro Suzuki didn’t even budge after it left the bat.

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The four-run outburst allowed the Angels to absorb a mistake-filled seventh inning, when the Mariners scored two runs.

Rehab report

Joel Pineiro, sidelined since July 28 because of a left rib-cage strain, completed a 45-pitch bullpen workout.

Pineiro (10-7) will probably need one more bullpen session and a simulated game or two before being activated.

“He had a great session today,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s passed every checkpoint with flying colors.”

Ailing Izturis

There is a chance infielder Maicer Izturis, on the disabled list because of an inflamed right shoulder, could sit out the remainder of the season. Izturis is getting treatment but does not appear close to resuming any baseball activities.

“I don’t know,” Izturis said, when asked whether he would play again this season. “I have to be patient.”

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