ROCKY ROLL: ANGELS LOSE COLORADO RALLIES FOR FOUR RUNS IN EIGHTH FOR VICTORY COLORADO 6, ANGELS 2.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- Ervin Santana had no problem Wednesday living up to his title as the best Angels pitcher not currently showing off his abilities at Triple-A.

Scot Shields, on the other hand, was unable to field his position and opened the door for the Colorado Rockies to take control.

Shields followed a solid outing by Santana by allowing four runs in the eighth inning -- three on a bases-clearing double by Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks product Jorge Piedra -- as the Rockies won 6-2 in the finale of a three-game series.

Every time the Angels look like they might start to find their way, they manage to slide backward. After winning three of four from the Kansas City Royals on the last homestand, the Angels have gone 5-7.

An 8-4 record over that stretch would have the Angels 3(bul) games out of first place in the American League West. Instead, they trail the Oakland Athletics by 6(bul) games.

Santana might have allowed manager Mike Scioscia to avoid bringing in Shields in the eighth inning if not for a fit of wildness in the fourth that raised his pitch count.

The first four Rockies batters in the fourth inning reached base, three of them by walks. Todd Helton opened the inning with a walk, Matt Holliday doubled, while Garret Atkins and Brad Hawpe followed with back-to-back walks to force home a run.

Santana did well to only allow one more run as JD Closser delivered a sacrifice fly for a 2-1 Rockies lead.

While Santana has been sharper, he made pitches when he needed them. He had runners on base in each of the first six innings, but two double plays helped alleviate some of that problem. His first perfect inning didn't come until the seventh.

From the start, the Angels offense looked ready to put on a rare run- scoring display. Using a makeshift lineup for the second time in four games, as multiple regulars had the night off, the Angels grabbed a 1-0 lead after two batters.

Maicer Izturis, in the leadoff spot for just the second time, opened with a single to left. Juan Rivera followed with a double to right-center off Rockies starter Jeff Francis that scored Izturis just ahead of the relay throw.

The Angels nearly scored again in the second inning, but Orlando Cabrera was thrown out at home plate while trying to score from first base on a double to left by Vladimir Guerrero.

It was one of three hits on the night for Guerrero, who had been batting 11 for 78 (.141) in his previous 18 games to drop his batting average from .332 to .284. It is Guerrero's lowest batting average at this point of the season in his career.

Guerrero put together his first three-hit game since June 5 at Tampa Bay, back when he was batting a robust .329.

He hit a two-out double to start an Angels rally in the seventh, prompting Rockies manager Clint Hurdle to replace Francis with reliever Ramon Ramirez. Mike Napoli greeted Ramirez with a double to left-center, tying the score at 2-2.

Shields would have been able to hold the lead if could have only fielded a two-out comebacker by Atkins.

With runners on first and second, Atkins hit a bouncer to Shields' right. He got the tip of his glove on the ball but that only helped to guide it into the hole between third base and shortstop. Cory Sullivan scored the go-ahead run on the play.

Shields then loaded the bases on a walk to Hawpe. Atkins was awarded a hit on the play, but Izturis did make a sixth-inning error to give the Angels 29 errors in 25 games this month. Their 63 miscues lead the AL.

Piedra delivered his three-run double off the right-field wall on a 1-1 pitch. Guerrero crashed into the wall, but was unable to make the play.

[e-mail]

[phone], Ext. 2731

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Colorado's Jorge Piedra (Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks) hits a three-run double in the eighth inning.

(2) Colorado starter Jeff Francis pulls his cap over his face after being relieved in the seventh inning.

Chris Carlson/Associated Press