Rivera homers twice as Angels rough up Mariners' pen

SEATTLE (AP) -- Much to Mike Scioscia's relief, the Los Angeles Angels are finally developing some depth and consistency within its offensive lineup.

Now comes the challenge of keeping it going.

"If you establish that depth ... it's going to give you a consistent offense, which is something we've been lacking," Scioscia said.

Juan Rivera hit two homers and the Angels used a seven-run sixth inning to rally for a 14-6 win over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday afternoon.

The Angels battered Seattle's bullpen for nine runs and 10 hits in just four innings, and gave starter Ervin Santana enough offense to overcome one shaky inning.

"I'll take it," Santana said with a grin. "I'm happy because we scored some runs and we know we need to score runs against those guys."

Rivera hit a solo homer leading off the fifth off Seattle starter Gil Meche, then hit an 0-1 pitch from reliever Rafael Soriano just inside the foul pole in right for a three-run homer in the ninth.

It was Rivera's fourth multi-homer game and he finished with five RBI. Rivera said he was looking for a high-fastball from Soriano and was surprised it carried just beyond the wall in right.

"Juan had a great day and he's been swinging the bat well the last couple of weeks and we need it," Scioscia said. "With he and Kendry Morales starting to do some things, it's going to extend the depth of our lineup."

Morales hit a pair of doubles and drove in three runs, but nearly every Angels' batter took a turn bashing Seattle's bullpen.

The Angels rallied from a 5-1 deficit behind a seven-run sixth inning. Struggling Maicer Izturis singled to center twice in the sixth, the second hit scoring Adam Kennedy, as the Angels produced their highest scoring inning of the season.

Izturis broke an 0-for-15 slump with a bunt single in the fourth inning.

The Angels sent 12 batters to the plate in the sixth and got RBI singles from Izturis, Orlando Cabrera and Jose Molina, and RBI doubles by Vladimir Guerrero and Morales. Rivera and Chone Figgins also hit run scoring sacrifice flies. The six hits in the inning were the most for Los Angeles this season.

"We just plain and simple got kicked," Seattle manager Mike Hargrove said.

The Angels have won four straight, while Seattle lost its third consecutive game and is just 1-4 on its nine-game homestand.

Santana (9-3) won his fifth straight decision despite giving up six earned runs. It was the most runs allowed in his last seven starts, but the fourth inning was Santana's only real trouble. Otherwise, he allowed just six hits and struck out six in his eight innings.

He faced just three batters in six of his eight innings.

"Today, I felt like I had all my stuff working good, every pitch," Santana said. "I felt I was pretty good today."

Figgins started the sixth walking on a 3-2 pitch from Meche. Izturis singled and then Cabrera singled to left, past a diving Adrian Beltre, to score Figgins. It was the 61st consecutive game Cabrera has safely reached base.

Meche was pulled despite having thrown only 87 pitches, and reliever Julio Mateo couldn't stop the Angels' rally. Guerrero greeted Mateo with a double into the left-field corner, and Mateo (5-3) allowed four runs, four hits and issued a pair of intentional walks.

Morales added a two-run double in the seventh off Jake Woods.

"They can't be just golden all the time, but it's is always surprising when they're not," Hargrove said of his bullpen. "I think there are some guys that are tired right now."

Meche was outstanding in June, going 3-0 with a 1.60 ERA. He had not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his five starts.

That success didn't translate into his first start of June. The righty gave up four earned runs and five hits.

"You get them started and they can score a ton of run," Meche said.

Seattle jumped ahead 5-1 with a five-run fourth inning, highlighted by back-to-back homers by Raul Ibanez and Richie Sexson on consecutive pitches.

Ibanez lined an 0-1 pitch from Santana into the first row in right field for a three-run homer. Sexson followed on the next pitch, homering to right-center for his 15th homer of the season. Ichiro Suzuki scored earlier in the inning on Jose Lopez's single to right.

Game notes
Izturis became the first Angel to get two hits in an inning since Guerrero on May 15, 2004 at Baltimore. ... Ibanez's homer was his 19th, five behind his career high of 24 in 2002 with Kansas City.