If Ervin Santana has been anything, he’s been consistent – consistently great. Friday night in Toronto the Halo hurler won for the fifth straight time, tossing his 3 third complete game in four starts while beating the Jays 5-1. Santana (9-8) allowed one run on 7 hits, while striking out 6 and walking two.
The Angels scored their first run on Vernon Wells’ first at-bat in Toronto as a member of the opposing team. Wells drove Jays’ starter Brandon Morrow’s first pitch to deep left-center after the Toronto crowd gave him a warm, standing ovation. Wells spent the last 12 season as a member of the Toronto squad, playing almost 1400 games with the Jays.
The Halos continued their scoring in the third when Alberto Callaspo singled home Peter Bourjos. After a bobby Abreu walk, Torii Hunter doubled to deep right to score both Callaspo and Abreu. The final Angel run scored on a throwing error by right fielder Jose Bautista after a Russell Branyon double that plated Hunter.
With Friday’s win, Santana has now compiled a 0.83 ERA in his last five starts. In those starts, the right-hander has allowed just 25 hits and 7 walks in 43 innings, while striking out 31.
The Angels are now 45-29 in games started by Santana, Weaver, and Haren, and have not lost more than 2 games in a row since July 16-19.