Angels roll past D-backs with 5-run frame
PHOENIX -- The Angels used a five-run sixth inning to back a strong outing from starter C.J. Wilson and beat the D-backs, 7-1, on Thursday afternoon at Chase Field.
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Efren Navarro and Carlos Perez each drove in a pair of runs, while Taylor Featherston and Johnny Giavotella each hit a solo home run in the third inning. Wilson pitched eight innings of one-run ball, scattering eight hits and striking out nine with no walks.
"I've had some games where I felt like I had a couple guys on base, and a dude would come up and hit a single or something and the guys would score," Wilson said. "Today, I was able to prevent the guy from scoring once there was a guy on base."
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Video: LAA@ARI: Wilson fans nine over eight innings in win
D-backs starter Allen Webster lasted just 5 1/3 innings in his second start of the year and his Chase Field debut. The right-hander gave up six runs on five hits and five walks.
"He pitched very well for the five, kept us in the game," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "Just two bad pitches up in the zone that they were able to hit the home runs on."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Piling it on: A day after going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, the Angels had no trouble producing a big rally in the sixth. Mike Trout hit a one-out RBI triple, followed by walks from Albert Pujols and David Freese to load the bases. Navarro then poked a two-run single to right off of D-backs reliever Josh Collmenter and Perez laced a two-run double to left, completing a five-run inning that stretched the Angels' lead to 7-1.
"We got production independently from what [Kole Calhoun] and Mike and Albert are going to do," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "And that's critical."
Video: LAA@ARI: Perez breaks it open with two-run double
Sixth-inning blues: In his first start for the D-backs last weekend, Webster lost a no-hitter in the sixth and could not finish the inning before allowing a pair of runs. This time around, Webster had allowed just two solo homers through five, but things spiraled out of control for him in the sixth as the Angels put together the five-run rally.
Special occasion: Featherston hit the first home run of his career in the third inning. The rookie shortstop hit a one-out solo shot to left to put the Angels up, 1-0. It also got the Angels' offense started as Giavotella hit a solo homer of his own just two batters later. More >
Video: LAA@ARI: Angels greet pair of teammates with silence
QUOTABLE
"He made a perfect throw and I was out. I tried to do like a Mike Trout turbo slide into second, but it just nicked me on the elbow, so I didn't get out of the way well enough." -- Wilson, on getting thrown out at second base trying to stretch a single
Video: LAA@ARI: Tomas throws out Wilson trying for second
WHAT'S NEXT
Angels: The road trip continues with a three-game series against the Athletics at 6:35 p.m. PT on Friday, about a week after taking two of three from the A's at Angel Stadium. Matt Shoemaker takes the mound looking for better results against the Athletics, after going 0-2 with a 6.91 ERA in three starts against them this season.
D-backs: Arizona opens a three-game series with the division-rival Padres on Friday night (6:40 MST) at Chase Field. Rubby De La Rosa will get the start. The right-hander had one of his best starts of the year in his Sunday outing, when he tossed eight-plus shutout innings against the Giants.
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