Angels' revenge is a 9-7 victory

OUCH! - Los Angeles' Vladimir Guerrero (right) reacts after being hit by a pitch from Texas pitcher Vicente Padilla in the third inning in Arlington Tuesday. Rangers catcher Rod Barajas is seen at left. Guerrero made the Rangers pay later, though, belting a three-run home run in the eigth inning that allowed L.A. to take a 9-7 win. ARLINGTON (AP) - The Los Angeles Angels are tired of getting brushed back and hit by pitches from the Texas Rangers.

On Tuesday night, the Angels did something about it.

Vladimir Guerrero hit a three-run homer four pitches after a high-inside fastball from Texas starter Vicente Padilla, and Chone Figgins' two-run triple in the eighth inning sent the Angels to a 9-7 victory.

Padilla was ejected for hitting two batters with pitches and nearly plunking a third in only 3 2/3 innings. Texas manager Buck Showalter also was tossed on a 101-degree night.

During the previous series between the teams, Rangers starter Adam Eaton was tossed in the first inning Aug. 6 for throwing at Juan Rivera.

"I don't know what message those guys are trying to send," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "It's a couple of times our guys have been thrown at."

Scioscia said he expects Padilla to be suspended.

"I'm sure the league is going to take action," Scioscia said. "When you're throwing inside on the counts that they threw, there's no point for any of that in our game."

Asked if Padilla deserves a suspension, Scioscia said: "It's warranted."

Michael Young, Hank Blalock, Matt Stairs and Rod Barajas homered for the Rangers, who had their fivegame winning streak snapped.

Barajas gave Texas a 7-6 lead in the seventh with a solo shot, but the Angels came back in the eighth against reliever Wes Littleton (2-1).

Pinch-hitter Curtis Pride singled with one out and went to third on Reggie Willits' double. Figgins' triple into the rightfield corner put the Angels ahead 8-7, and Maicer Izturis added an RBI groundout.

Hector Carrasco (3-3) pitched one inning for the win. Francisco Rodriguez worked a perfect ninth for his 31st save in 34 chances.

Littleton, who took a streak of 12 1/3 scoreless innings into the game, allowed three runs and three hits in two innings.

Guerrero connected in the fourth to give Los Angeles a 6-3 lead, not long after a knockdown pitch from Padilla.

Padilla retired Anderson on a fly ball but was ejected by Wendelstedt when he hit Rivera with a fastball. It was the 14th batter Padilla has plunked this season, tying him with Javier Vazquez of the Chicago White Sox for the AL lead.

Showalter, who was automatically ejected because the dugouts had been warned, said Padilla was simply throwing inside.

"One of the reasons (Padilla) has been successful is by pitching inside," Showalter said. "He's going to continue to do that."