Angels edge Toronto...Take two game lead in AL

[basilrathbonejr]

Anaheim 6 Toronto 4

Anaheim won its second straight game giving the team a two game lead over the Boston Red Sox who lost their third straight game. Third place Tampa Bay, winners of eight of their last ten are jus two games off the pace.

Winning pitcher Charlie Henderson (3-1) went five and two thirds innings, allowed one unearned run on four hits, walked two and struck out four. It was Henderson's third straight win after getting pounded 8-0 on Opening Day by Cleveland.

The Angels used three pitchers out of their bullpen in this game.

Veteran righthander Sal Susko took over in the sixth from Henderson and got the final out, then pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

In the eighth righthander Randy Boozer gave up two runs on one hit and three walks. The run scoring hit came off the bat of Eddie Leon, a single. Lefthander Bill Gorman took over and got the final out getting Harry Rijo on a routine flyball to left fielder Joe Johnson.

Gorman worked the ninth as well, picking up his second save, but was touched up for a run on two hits. Alex Harrington scored the run on a one out double by Carlos Dygert. After Gorman walked Eddie Kelly the thirty three year old lefthander got Jimmy Pick to ground into a game ending double play.

Anaheim scored single runs in the 3rd, 4th and 5th innings. Fred Hooper had a RBI single in the third, Newly acquired Hal Cuppy singled in a run in the fourth and third baseman Dave Bliss drove in a run in the fifth.

Bliss led the Anaheim offense with two hits and three runs batted in. Bliss hit his fourth homerun of the season off Quilvio Lund in the three run Angel seventh. Center fielder Harley Murray also had a run scoring single in the inning that gave the Angels a 6-1 lead.