Angels hit two more home runs to beat Giants 8-1 for fifth straight win

Angels win fifth straight

SAN FRANCISCO — Mike Napoli had a three-run homer among his four hits, pitcher Sean O’Sullivan won his major league debut, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the San Francisco Giants 8-1 on Tuesday night for their season-best fifth straight victory.

O’Sullivan (1-0) was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to make the start after the Angels scratched Ervin Santana because of a strain below his pitching elbow in the forearm area — then O’Sullivan was sent back down afterward. O’Sullivan allowed five hits and one run, struck out five and walked one in seven strong innings. He also hit an infield single leading off the fourth for his first big league hit.

The Angels’ first three hits off Jonathan Sanchez (2-7) were doubles, including one by Juan Rivera that put Los Angeles ahead for good in the first. The Angels had 15 hits and have 15 homers, 70 hits and 43 runs during their winning streak.

Bobby Abreu hit a pair of RBI singles for Los Angeles, which improved to 7-1 in interleague play.

The Angels did it without center fielder Torii Hunter. He sat out a day after bruising his ribs when he crashed into the wall trying to catch a double by Bengie Molina. Manager Mike Scioscia hopes Hunter will return Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sanchez lost his third straight start and sixth in his last nine outings, getting knocked out after giving up a season-high 10 hits and seven runs in his shortest start of the year. Justin Miller relieved and retired all seven batters he faced.

Nate Schierholtz hit a seventh-inning sacrifice fly for the Giants, who lost only their second home series all season and their first in four series since dropping three of four to the New York Mets from May 14-17. San Francisco second baseman Matt Downs also was called up to make his big league debut. He went 0-for-3 with a walk batting eighth, lining out to center to end the game.

Pablo Sandoval singled in the second for San Francisco’s first hit off O’Sullivan and a career-best 10-game hitting streak, but Sandoval also committed three errors in the first three innings — including two on Izturis’ chopper to start the third. Abreu singled home Izturis moments later for a 2-0 Angels’ lead.

NOTES: Of the Angels’ 70 hits during this run, 33 have been for extra bases. … RHP Kelvim Escobar (shoulder) went back on the Angels’ 15-day DL but is expected to be ready to pitch in relief come Monday when he’s eligible to be activated. … Los Angeles reliever Scot Shields underwent season-ending surgery on his left knee. Shields had the operation Tuesday in Los Angeles to repair the patella tendon in his knee and the Angels transferred him to the 60-day disabled list. Team orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum performed the surgery. The team expects Shields to resume baseball activities in about six months. … The Giants optioned 2B Emmanuel Burriss to Triple-A Fresno to work on his offense.