M's fail to take advantage of Santana's 7 walks

SEATTLE (AP) - Torii Hunter and Howie Kendrick homered for the Los Angeles Angels to help a wild Ervin Santana overcome seven walks Thursday night in a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

Hunter hit a three-run shot in the first inning and the Angels remained 3? games behind AL West leader Texas. The Rangers beat Tampa Bay 7-2.

Santana (10-9), given an early lead, was not nearly as sharp he had been lately. He entered 6-1 with a 2.06 ERA and three complete games in his previous nine starts, and 4-0 with a 1.68 ERA in his last four road starts.

Yet he walked a season-high seven batters against Seattle, with two scoring. Santana went 6 2/3 innings, his shortest outing since lasting 6 1/3 innings July 16, while allowing four hits and three runs. He struck out five.

Jordan Walden worked the ninth for his 27th save in 36 opportunities. In six appearances against Seattle this season, Walden has four saves and two wins.

Santana had a control blip in the third and the Mariners took advantage. He walked the first two batters, Brendan Ryan and Trayvon Robinson. Ichiro Suzuki followed with a double, scoring Ryan.

With one out, Dustin Ackley drilled a single up the middle, scoring Robinson and Suzuki to cut it to 4-3. But the Angels held on to earn a four-game split.

The Angels did their damage early, putting immediate pressure on Charlie Furbush (3-7) in the first inning.

Maicer Izturis was hit in the right thigh by a pitch to open the game. He played two more innings but was replaced in the third by Andrew Romine. Izturis has a bruise.

Peter Bourjos walked and, with one out, Hunter launched a 1-2 pitch through the gusty wind and into the left-field bullpen for his 19th home run.

Furbush went six innings, his second-longest stint in eight starts. He gave up four runs and four hits, walked three and struck out five.