Major League Baseball

Vlad hits 400th HR as Angels edge Rays

Published Aug. 11, 2009 8:11 a.m. ET

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Vladimir Guerrero showed impeccable timing in reaching a milestone.

He homered twice, including the 400th of his career that put the Angels ahead in the seventh inning, and Kendry Morales also hit two homers in an 8-7 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.

"It came at a moment when the team really needed it," Guerrero said through a translator.

Guerrero extended his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games a week after coming off the disabled list for the second time this season. He is one of seven active major leaguers with 400 homers and 2,000 hits.


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"It's a Hall of Fame career," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Guerrero's 400th homer hit high off the right field foul pole and landed in the seats. He pumped his right arm as he rounded first base to raucous cheers.

The milestone had been discussed at Guerrero's house over the weekend, with his family speculating on when and how it would happen.

"My mom kept telling me there's two more. My brother Wilton had bad math and said it was one more," he said. "It's good it came here in front of the family."

The Angels rallied four times before putting away the Rays, who fell to 8-15 overall against the AL West and 3-10 on the road.

Tampa Bay got homers from Jason Bartlett, who fell a single short of hitting for the cycle, and Carlos Pena in losing its second straight.

"They're swinging the bats very well right now up and down the lineup," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "They've got a lot going on offensively. They're a different team. They're taking their pitches and working better counts."

Kevin Jepsen (4-3) earned the victory, giving up one hit in two innings with two strikeouts and one walk.

"We had some big home runs from Vlad and Kendry. In between we did a good job of situational hitting," Scioscia said. "We needed every one of those runs. At some point you have to pitch and make plays. We started off a little rocky but then we settled down."

Brian Fuentes pitched the ninth for his 32nd save in 36 chances. Ben Zobrist nearly tied the game with two outs, but Juan Rivera took his bid for a home run away with a catch in front of the short wall in the left field corner.

"That's a tough wall. It's a low wall, but if you're running toward it hard, it's kind of firm and it can mess up an outfielder," Maddon said. "I've seen guys kind of back off that wall."

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