Major League Baseball

Padres 5, Angels 3

Published Apr. 2, 2010 7:15 a.m. ET

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Kyle Blanks went 2 for 2 with a three-run homer to lead the San Diego Padres to a 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night.

Blanks scored on a fielder's choice in the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie. In his next at-bat, Blanks homered to center field off of reliever Michael Kohn to give the Padres a 5-1 lead.

San Diego starter Chris Young pitched into the fourth inning, allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts and three walks.

The Angels took an early lead in the first inning when Hideki Matsui singled off the glove of Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to drive in Bobby Abreu.

Angels starting pitcher Joe Saunders pitched five innings and allowed two runs on four hits with four strikeouts. Saunders hit Blanks with a pitch in the second inning and Blanks came around to tie the score at 1 on an RBI double by Scott Hairston.

``I felt confident and got ahead of guys for the most part. What I was most happy with was the change-up,'' Saunders said. ``My sinker was working a lot, too. I was just getting some groundouts and letting my infield work for me.''

Los Angeles third baseman Brandon Wood drove in Kendry Morales with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull the Angels within 3. Morales added a run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia named Jered Weaver his Opening Day starter, followed by Saunders and Ervin Santana. Scioscia said he was undecided about Scott Kazmir and Joel Pineiro.

``We'll see how the rest of the guys fill out,'' Scioscia said.

Saunders said his rotation-mates were not bothered by the lack of a true No. 1 starter.

``The rotation, from what I've seen, has been really good,'' Saunders said. ``We've got five great arms. I don't think we have a bonified one, but when you have five 2s, who needs a No. 1, really?''

NOTES: Angels catcher Jeff Mathis was a late scratch from the starting lineup due to a bruised left hand sustained when he was hit on Tuesday against Milwaukee. Mathis was replaced by Bobby Wilson, who went 0-for-4. San Diego closes its spring training schedule Friday at the Lake Elsinore Storm, the Padres? Class-A affiliate. The Padres open the 2010 season Monday at Arizona, with Jon Garland scheduled to start. The Angels play a home-and-away game with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday and Saturday before opening the season against Minnesota on Monday The Opening Day nod for Weaver is the second time he has opened the season for the Angels. Weaver was the Opening Day starter in 2008 in place of an injured John Lackey. The loss dropped the Angels to 11-15-4, the first time since 2003 they will have finished spring training with a losing record

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