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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Vlad blasts 400th homer


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Vladimir Guerrero

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ANAHEIM, Calif. — Vladimir Guerrero homered twice, including the 400th of his career to put the Angels ahead in the seventh inning, Kendry Morales also hit two homers, and the Los Angeles Angels went on to an 8-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays last night.

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.

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

Guerrero's 400th homer off Russ Springer hit high off the right field foul pole for an 8-7 lead. 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 3-13 on the road.

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

RED SOX 6, TIGERS 5:

Nick Green hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly and one of Boston's three homers as the Red Sox ended their six-game losing streak by beating visiting Detroit. The Red Sox squandered a 5-3 lead when Manny Delcarmen allowed two runs in the seventh. They went back in front, 6-5, in the bottom of the inning on singles by J.D. Drew and Casey Kotchman and Green's sacrifice fly.

BLUE JAYS 5, YANKEES 4:

Lyle Overbay and Aaron Hill hit solo homers and visiting Toronto snapped New York's seven-game winning streak. Overbay drove in two runs, and Edwin Encarnacion and Joe Inglett also drove in runs for the Blue Jays. Derek Jeter hit a homer on the third pitch of the game, and Robinson Cano and Jerry Hairston added back-to-back homers in the fourth for the Yankees.

ATHLETICS 9, ORIOLES 1:

Rookie Gio Gonzalez took a five-hit shutout into the seventh inning, and Mark Ellis had a career-high five hits and four RBIs as Oakland beat host Baltimore. After giving up two hits to start the seventh, Gonzalez (4-2) was pulled following a rain delay of 52 minutes. When play resumed, Craig Breslow got three straight outs to strand both runners in scoring position.

MARINERS 6, WHITE SOX 4:

Kenji Johjima hit a tie-breaking two-run shot in the sixth inning as host Seattle beat Chicago. Playing on consecutive days for the first time since July 4-5, Johjima hit the third pitch from reliever Tony Pena for his first home run since May 25.