AL: Rookie lifts Angels into tie

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Rookie Ervin Santana pitched into the ninth inning and Robb Quinlan homered Thursday night in the Los Angeles Angels' 3-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

The Angels won the final two games of the three-game series to draw even with the A's atop the West. The teams play a four-game series Sept. 26-29 in Oakland.

Making his 17th major-league start, Santana gave up Mark Ellis' double leading off the first and Ellis' single in the third, then retired 12 straight until Jay Payton's single in the seventh.

The right-hander, 22, left after Eric Chavez's one-out single in the ninth. Francisco Rodriguez finished for his 32nd save in 37 chances.

Rodriguez pitched in every game of the series, losing the opener and saving the final two.

Chone Figgins went 3-for-3 for the Angels, scored the first run and stole two bases.

Bengie Molina singled home Figgins from third against former Devil Ray Joe Kennedy in the third, then Quinlan homered against the left-hander in the fourth. The Angels added a run in the eighth when Vladimir Guerrero stole third on a double steal and scored on catcher Jason Kendall's throwing error.

Quinlan, getting more playing time at third since Figgins moved to center to replace the benched Steve Finley, drove Kennedy's first pitch to him in the fourth to left for his third homer of the season and second in three nights.

Kennedy filled in for Rich Harden, sidelined by a muscle strain in his right side. Kennedy gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings.

MARINERS 5, YANKEES 1: The Yankees thought the line drive that knocked Jaret Wright out of the game cost them a victory. Still, they were happy to leave Seattle with the pitcher on the team plane instead of in the hospital.

Raul Ibanez's sixth-inning liner hit Wright on his right collarbone and neck, forcing him from the game. X-rays were negative, but the Mariners rallied.

"There's no question it was a momentum changer," Alex Rodriguez said. "He was breezing along and getting stronger."

Leading 1-0 when Wright was struck, the Yankees lost after Miguel Ojeda's first homer with Seattle broke a tie at 1 in the seventh.

In the clubhouse after the game, Wright pulled down his crew neck shirt and displayed an ugly red 3-inch knot on his neck.

"It was a pitcher's worst nightmare," he said. "You throw the ball, and then it's right there on you. He got me pretty good."

WHITE SOX 12, TIGERS 3: Jose Contreras won his third straight start and A.J. Pierzynski went 3-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs to lead host Chicago. Jermaine Dye and Carl Everett also homered for the White Sox, who broke the game open with six runs in the eighth.

RANGERS 5, ROYALS 4: Kenny Rogers, making his fifth start since a 13-game suspension for shoving two TV cameramen, won for the first time since July 16, and Rod Barajas homered twice and drove in four for visiting Texas.

ORIOLES 5, BLUE JAYS 3: Jay Gibbons and B.J. Surhoff homered in the sixth inning to lead visiting Baltimore. The Orioles have won two straight after losing 10 of 11.

[Last modified September 2, 2005, 02:15:35]