Sports Network | June 27, 2010
Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Hideki Matsui blasted a grand slam in the first inning, providing all the necessary offense in the Angels' 4-2 win over the Rockies.
Matsui hit his sixth career grand slam and first since 2008 with the Yankees, as the Angels snapped a two-game losing streak and won for the sixth time in nine games. Additionally, LA avoided what could have been a three-game sweep, which marks the 76th consecutive home series in which the Angels have not been swept.
Joe Saunders (6-8) improved to a league-best 25-9 in his career after a team loss after allowing just two runs on four hits and two walks in seven strong innings. Brian Fuentes recorded his 13th save.
"I was working on stuff in the bullpen," Saunders said. "My curve ball and slider were working good tonight. I was just trying to be more consistent."
Clint Barmes homered for the Rockies, who lost for only the third time in nine games. Aaron Cook (2-5) went the distance in the loss, allowing three earned runs, four hits and a walk. Following his shaky first inning that ended up costing him the game, he set the Angels down in order six times, giving up only two more baserunners -- both in the seventh.
"It was unfortunate for Cook because I feel that was as good as he's pitched all year," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy. "That was a winning performance, and he has nothing to show for it tonight."
The Angels scored all the runs they needed with one swing of the bat in the opening inning.
With one out, Kevin Frandsen singled, and Bobby Abreu reached on a fielder's choice when Ian Stewart committed an error. A Torii Hunter single loaded the bases for Matsui, whose grand slam to center gave LA a 4-0 lead.
"I was waiting for a sinker that was up in the zone," Matsui said. "I tried to avoid any pitch that I would hit into the ground. I wasn't looking for the result, just a pitch I could drive somewhere."
Barmes got the Rockies on the board with a leadoff homer in the third, and Melvin Mora's one-out double in the fourth was followed by a Miguel Olivo RBI single for a 4-2 game.
Both pitchers took over from there. Saunders allowed only one more baserunner in his outing -- a leadoff walk in the sixth -- while no Angel batter reached until the seventh. Cook, though, recovered to get out of the seventh unscathed, although the Rockies were unable to score off Fernando Rodney or Fuentes in the eighth and ninth, respectively.
Rockies second baseman Jonathan Herrera extended his hitting streak to eight games...The Angels are 10-7 in interleague play...Cook recorded his 11th career complete game, although he fell to 0-5 on the road this season...The Angels have not lost three straight games since May 4-6...The Rockies are 9-5 in interleague play.