It was sudden and unexpected. Going into the bottom 8th, the Angels were down 3-2 to the A’s and fans were yet again subjected to the low scoring, minimal offensive output that they were getting accustomed to seeing. Then, after Vladimir Guerrero hit a single up the third base line to knock in Kotchman and tie the game at 3, Garret Anderson came up for his first at bat in the past few games. Maybe a rest was all he needed, for he then sent a hanging pitch hurtling into the ex-bullpen in right field. That was all the runs the Angels would need, as Frankie Rodriguez held onto the lead in the top of the ninth to give them a 5-3 win and to improve his record to 33 saves, the most in all of major league baseball. John Smoltz has the alltime record before the allstar break at 34, so Angel fans may not have to wait very long for the record to be broken. 

Santana pitched a decent game as well, dispite the fact that his pitch count was well over 100 in the 7th inning. He did not get the win, however, as when he left, the game was tied at 2. At that point, he could have gotten only the loss or the no decision. In the end, Shields did get the win, leaving when the Angels were winning 5-3. This improves his record vs the A’s to 4-10.

The main thing that excites the fans about this game though, more than anything else, is that the offensive drought is over, if only for one game.