SANTANA A POLITE WINNER RIGHT-HANDER SHUTS DOWN D'RAYS; GUERRERO HITS GRAND SLAM ANGELS 9, TAMPA BAY 2.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA  Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- Ervin Santana refuses to reveal his second-half goals, apparently believing that it is rude to let opponents know he has a 20-victory season on his mind.

What is really rude has been the treatment Santana has given opponents while on the mound. The right-hander wrapped up his 11th victory of the season and seventh consecutive Saturday in the Angels' 9-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Angel Stadium.

Vladimir Guerrero also has been far from kind to his foes of late. Guerrero delivered the 1,000th RBI of his career with a first-inning single and crushed a seventh-inning grand slam as an encore, the fourth grand slam of his career.

The Angels have five consecutive victories and have won 10 of their past 11 games to reach the .500 mark (45-45) for the first time since April 29. The hot streak has moved the Angels 1 1/2 games behind American League West co-leaders Oakland and Texas.

``We're doing many more things better than we have at any time during the season and it's showing up,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``You're never going to have a perfect game or a perfect team, but you need to do things the right way the majority of the time and we're doing it.''

While Santana lacks the flash of John Lackey's recent dominance, he has been as steady as they come for the Angels this season. Only once during Santana's win streak has he allowed more than three earned runs, and during that span his ERA has dropped from 4.32 to 3.88.

The second-year starter is often brought up in trade talks, but it doesn't seem as if the Angels are about to part with such a valuable piece of their rotation.

``Something like that, I'm not going to say it wouldn't happen,'' Scioscia said when asked if it was unlikely the Angels would unload a pitcher to get a coveted offensive piece. ``You have to consider it if it's going to make us better. But just from the pitching side ... we're using some of (our depth) now and it's performing well.''

That depth will be tested even further next week when Dustin Mosley and Joe Saunders are expected to pitch in back-to-back games to cover for Jered Weaver and Kelvim Escobar. Weaver will skip a start with biceps tendinitis while Escobar is on the disabled list with elbow tendinitis.

During Santana's seven-game win streak, he has just one no-decision, and he gave up just two runs in seven innings in that game, June 28 against the Colorado Rockies.

Santana (11-3) was given an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Guerrero delivered his 1,000th RBI by driving in Orlando Cabrera. He became the seventh fastest to reach the 1,000-RBI mark among active players and is the second Angel to reach the milestone this season after Tim Salmon.

The Devil Rays took a 2-1 lead in the third inning, but it didn't take long for the Angels to answer. Rookie Mike Napoli crushed a two-run home run in the fourth inning, his 12th of the season and the Angels never trailed again.

When the Angels put up five runs in the seventh by sending 11 batters to the plate, Santana's night was essentially finished. He gave way to Hector Carrasco after giving up two runs on four hits with six strikeouts.

``To me I'm very happy because I know I'm throwing good, and I know my pitches are getting better every day,'' Santana said. ``I have confidence and I'm positive, 100 percent.''

After Guerrero's grand slam, the slugger received two curtain calls, although Santana certainly deserved one. Following the five-run seventh, Guerrero was replaced in right field by Tommy Murphy.

Counting the All-Star Game, Guerrero has three home runs this week and his June struggles seem a distant memory.

``What's going to make us go is Vlad swinging well and all the parts around him doing their part,'' Scioscia said. ``We're still waiting for Garret (Anderson) to swing the bat on a consistent basis.''

The Angels did most of their damage against former Hart High of Newhall standout Jamie Shields (4-3), who was making just his ninth career start and his second against the Angels. Shields gave up six runs on nine hits in six-plus innings. It was much different than the scoreless six innings Shields threw against the Angels on June 5 in his second career start.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) The Angels' Vladimir Guerrero drives in his 1,000th career run with a single in the first inning Saturday.

(2) Angels rookie catcher Mike Napoli hits a two-run home run off Tampa Bay starter Jamie Shields (Hart of Newhall) in the fourth inning.

Jeff Lewis/Associated Press