Santiago Blanks Former Team Again, Angels Beat White Sox 7-0
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — If the Los Angeles Angels trade Hector Santiago before the Aug. 1 deadline, they might want to consider shipping him to a National League team they rarely play.
Just ask the Chicago White Sox.
Santiago threw seven innings of five-hit ball against his former club, and the Angels beat the White Sox, 7-0, on Friday night.
It was the second time this season Santiago blanked the White Sox 7-0. He has tossed 14 spotless innings against them, but given up 54 runs over 91 1/3 innings in his other 17 starts.
"There's always a little bit more competitiveness, for sure," Santiago said.
"You want to get back at them, get yourself to another level against your old team. When they come in, there's no doubt that I kind of step my game up."
The left-hander did exactly that once again, striking out seven without issuing a walk Friday. Los Angeles supported him with two runs in the second and five in the seventh.
Santiago (7-4) has been pitching particularly well of late. He has not allowed an earned run in his last 22 innings.
Chicago's offense has been going in the opposite direction. The White Sox have not scored in their last 23 innings, and they were shut out in consecutive games for the first time this season.
"We didn't swing, and we didn't play that good of defense, either, but I thought (Santiago) threw well, too," manager Robin Ventura. "You tip your cap.
"Coming back from the break, you expect the guys to swing a little bit better. It's just one day."
The Angels are 38-52 on the season, 15 1/2 games back of first-place Texas in the AL West. They are expected to deal veterans before the trade deadline, and Santiago's name has been prominently mentioned.
Santiago insisted he shrugs it all off.
"That's what you have to do," he said. "You can't control that part of the game. You just come out here and try to throw the ball well. Hopefully you can be here all year with guys you grinded through all spring and all season.
"I just try to sit back, have fun, come out here and do my job every day, and whatever happens, happens."
The first five Angels hitters in the seventh scored against four different White Sox pitchers.
"We just kept pounding the ball in that seventh inning," Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. "Good situational hitting. Guys put the ball in play, used the whole field, good job with runners in scoring position, and ran the bases aggressively."
Four of the Angels' nine hits were doubles, one each by Kole Calhoun, Geovany Soto, Daniel Nava and Jefry Marte. Andrelton Simmons also singled in the seventh to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.
The Angels have won five of their last seven games.
Four runs came against Chicago right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (2-5), though only two were earned. Rookie shortstop Tim Anderson committed two errors.
"I thought he threw well enough to win a game, but we didn't swing very well," Ventura said. "(Santiago) coming off the break was sharp."
Gonzalez has not won a road game since beating Tampa Bay on July 25, 2015. He tossed seven shutout innings against the Yankees in his previous start.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: 1B Justin Morneau was called up from his rehab stint at Triple-A and added to the roster. The 35-year-old Morneau had offseason surgery to repair the primary flexor in his right elbow. Chicago signed him June 9 to a one-year contract.
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP James Shields (4-10) is scheduled to make his eighth start Saturday night since coming to Chicago in a June 4 trade with the Padres. He is 2-3 with a 7.68 ERA for the White Sox, but 2-1 with a 2.21 ERA in his last three starts.
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