Morales' monster night powers Angels

 

First baseman ties team record with four extra-base hits

ANAHEIM -- Kendry Morales tied a career high with six RBIs and hit two home runs, including a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh, to lead the Angels to an 11-7 win over the A's on Friday in front of 41,912 at Angel Stadium.

Morales' career night helped lift the Angels to a win despite the fact that rookie right-hander Trevor Bell lasted just 2 2/3 innings and was knocked out of the game after allowing five runs in the third.

Morales, who hit a solo homer in the second to get the Angels on the board, also had two doubles, becoming the first Angels player to record four extra-base hits since Juan Rivera did it last year on Sept. 18 against Seattle.

But Morales' biggest hit came in the seventh with the Angels down, 6-5, with two outs and reliever Brad Ziegler on the mound. Morales fell behind 0-2, but he went deep to right field for his 29th home run, breaking Chili Davis' club record for home runs in a season by a switch-hitter.

The homer was part of a seven-run inning for the Angels, and six of those runs came with two outs. They scored their first run of the frame on an error by Oakland first baseman Daric Barton before Vladimir Guerrero brought the Angels within a run with a two-run single. Morales then hit his three-run homer, and Erick Aybar tripled and came home to score on a single by Howard Kendrick.

The win also came on the same day it was announced that the Angels acquired left-hander Scott Kazmir from the Rays. Kazmir is expected to join the rotation and take the place of Bell.