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The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim scored the first eight runs of the game and nearly squandered that lead at the end. However, it was too little too late for San Francisco as the Giants fell two runs short of extra innings. With a 9-7 victory over the Giants, the Angels improved their record to 33-29 while the Giants fell to 34-29.

While the Giants’ area of expertise is the pitching, it was not to be today as Barry Zito allowed seven earned runs on ten hits in just 3.2 innings.

Juan Rivera started the game off with his 9th long ball of the year in the second inning. Two innings later, the Angels exploded for seven runs; Erick Aybar and Bobby Abreu went deep for the Angels during that inning. After four innings, the Giants found themselves down 8-0.

The Giants finally found the scoreboard in the 6th inning when Rich Aurilia’s RBI single drove in Eli Whiteside. One inning later, Andres Torres’ two-run blast cut the San Francisco deficit to five; it was Torres’ second dinger of the year.

In the top of the 8th inning, Sean Rodriguez homered to give the Angels a 9-3 lead; the solo shot was his first of the season. In the bottom of that inning, Giants first baseman Pablo Sandoval hit a solo shot of his own to restore the deficit to five. Sandoval hit another long ball in the bottom of the 9th; this time, it was a three-run blast that made it 9-7.

Brian Fuentes then came on the mound for the Angels and recorded the last out of the game; Fuentes earned his 17th save of the season after forcing Rich Aurilia to fly out.

Angels started John Lackey, who had gone winless in his last four starts, earned his second victory of the season. Lackey allowed three earned runs on ten hits in seven innings, striking out ten in the process.

For the Angels, it was their fourth consecutive victory.