David Freese drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Tuesday night for their sixth victory in eight games.
Hector Santiago (3-2) pitched seven innings to win for the first time since April 21. He allowed two runs, one earned, and four hits.
Joe Smith worked the eighth and Huston Street finished for his 13th save.
Kole Calhoun homered in the fourth for the Angels.
Josh Donaldson hit a solo shot for Toronto, which has lost eight of 10.
Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez (3-4) allowed three runs and six hits in a career-high 7 1-3 innings.
Sanchez left after walking Albert Pujols to put runners at first and second with one out in the eighth. Roberto Osuna came on and got Calhoun to hit a grounder to third. Donaldson tried to tag out Erick Aybar, but Aybar dove around the tag and was called safe, loading the bases. Freese followed with the tiebreaking sacrifice fly.
✋✋✋ pic.twitter.com/C6Ju1lBIqT
— Angels (@Angels) May 20, 2015
Donaldson led off the bottom of the first with a drive that bounced off the top of the center-field wall and went out, the second leadoff homer of his career.
The Angels tied it in the fourth on a two-out drive by Calhoun, but Toronto reclaimed the lead in the fifth. Kevin Pillar reached on a throwing error by Aybar at shortstop, and Steve Tolleson walked. Ryan Goins advanced both runners with a sacrifice before Donaldson hit a sacrifice fly.
The Angels used broken-bat singles by Aybar and Mike Trout to put runners at first and second with one out in the sixth, but Sanchez escaped by getting Pujols to ground into a double play.
Los Angeles tied it in the seventh. Calhoun drew a leadoff walk, the first of the game by Sanchez, moved to second on a grounder and third on a wild pitch before scoring on Chris Iannetta's single.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Santiago appeared to twist his right ankle when he landed awkwardly on a follow through in the sixth. He was checked by the trainer and stayed in the game.
Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis (left shoulder) missed his third straight game. ... SS Jose Reyes (left ribs) took batting practice for the third consecutive day and is expected to begin a rehab assignment this week.
And just like that, we’re tied. Check out @KoleCalhoun’s game-tying blast: http://t.co/fE0JhAtusH #Angels pic.twitter.com/lMfs5gjF30
— Angels (@Angels) May 20, 2015
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Jered Weaver (2-4) has won his past two starts after going winless in his first six outings of the season. Weaver has allowed one earned run in his last 16 1-3 innings, lowering his ERA from 6.29 to 4.44.
Blue Jays: RHP Drew Hutchison (3-0, 6.17 ERA) has yielded just three earned runs in his past two starts after giving up 12 in his previous two. He struck out a season-high nine but didn't get a decision in his last start, May 14 at Houston.
