Hunter's return a boon for Angels as OF keys 9-run 13th vs. shaky O's 'pen

BALTIMORE -- Torii Hunter waited nearly six weeks for the opportunity to win a game for the Los Angeles Angels, then blew it by lining into a double play with the bases loaded in the 11th inning.

Given a second chance to beat the Baltimore Orioles in the 13th, he delivered.

Hunter celebrated his return from the disabled list by driving in the go-ahead run in a nine-run 13th inning that provided the Angels a 17-8 victory Sunday.

Chone Figgins had four hits for Los Angeles, including the 1,000th of his career, an RBI single in the sixth inning. Figgins scored three runs, drove in three and stole a base.

After missing 32 games with a groin injury, Hunter had two hits and two RBIs in his first action since July 7. He had a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the first inning, then ended the 11th inning with his liner to second base before redeeming himself with a bases-loaded bouncer up the middle in the 13th off Brian Bass (5-3).

"I had some big situations there," Hunter said. "First time I came up I didn't deliver, even though I had a sacrifice fly. Next time, I lined into a double play. The last time, I just wanted to put the ball somewhere safe and get the run home."

After the game, Hunter just wanted to put his feet up and relax.

"My legs are tired and I'm pretty exhausted. It's like 'Welcome back!'" he said. "But I have a few games to make up. It was almost like a doubleheader out there."

After Hunter's single in the 13th, Erick Aybar hit a two-run single against Matt Albers, the Angels' fifth straight hit. Los Angeles kept adding to the margin until Juan Rivera finished the onslaught with a three-run homer.

The nine runs were the most scored in one extra inning since San Diego registered the same amount in the 10th against Philadelphia on May 28, 1995.

"I don't know what you call it, but a nine-run 13th inning is ... a little unusual," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Jason Bulger (6-1) worked the final two innings for Los Angeles, which had a season-high 23 hits.

Brian Roberts, Luke Scott and Nick Markakis homered for the Orioles, who rallied from 6-2 and 8-6 deficits.

But in the 13th, the Angels finally built a lead too large for Baltimore to overcome.

Baltimore closed to 8-7 in the eighth when Matt Wieters ended an 0-for-16 skid by Orioles pinch hitters with an RBI single, and Baltimore pulled even in the ninth against closer Brian Fuentes. Roberts led off with a double, stole third and scored on a fly ball by Adam Jones that reached the warning track in left.

"I don't know what more they could have done to try to win the game," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said.

Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie allowed seven runs, 10 hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. He yielded his AL-high 28th homer, but avoided his 13th loss.

"They're a very good hitting team, and on top of that I did not execute enough pitches to get the momentum on my side and keep us in the game," Guthrie said. "Our offense did a tremendous job. To come back and have a shot to win that game, despite the pitching, is obviously a big compliment to them.

Angels rookie Sean O'Sullivan yielded six runs and seven hits, including three homers, in four-plus innings. Since his recall from Triple-A Salt Lake on Aug. 5, the right-hander has given up 16 runs in 13 2/3 innings to raise his ERA from 3.72 to 5.91.

Game notes
Angels DH Vladimir Guerrero was a late scratch as a precautionary measure after he complained of stiffness in his left knee, where he was hit by a pitch on Saturday night ... Markakis has reached in 36 straight games, a personal best and 16 short of the club record. ... Two defense gems: SS Aybar snagged a first-inning grounder on the grass in short left field and turned to throw out Roberts; Jones made a leaping catch at the wall on Mike Napoli's sacrifice fly.