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Angels’ Johnny Giavotella gets game-winning hit in 3-2 win over Rockies

Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella, batting in the sixth inning, delivered the game-winning hit in the ninth inning on Wednesday night in Denver.

Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella, batting in the sixth inning, delivered the game-winning hit in the ninth inning on Wednesday night in Denver.

(David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
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KEY MOMENT: David Freese singled off John Axford with one out in the top of the ninth, and Chris Ianetta doubled to left, moving pinch-runner Taylor Featherston to third. David Robertson was walked intentionally to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Efren Navarro struck out, but Johnny Giavotella, as the clock struck midnight in Coors Field, grounded a run-scoring single to left for a 3-2 lead. Angels closer Huston Street struck out Carlos Gonzalez with a runner on second for the second out of the ninth, and after walking Nolan Arenado intentionally, he got Ben Paulsen to ground out for his 299th career save. Street appeared to hurt himself on the last out. The Angels have won nine of 10 games to cut Houston’s lead in the American League West to 1 1/2 games.

AT THE PLATE: Mike Trout crushed a solo homer to left field in the first and a prodigious tying solo shot to center — estimated at 465 feet, the second longest of his career — in the sixth for the fifth multi-homer game of his career. Trout has 24 homers, tying him with Detroit’s J.D. Martinez for second in the AL behind Albert Pujols (26). Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki singled in the first to extend his hitting streak to 20 games.

ON THE MOUND: Matt Shoemaker pitched around heavy traffic while giving up two runs and nine hits in 52/3 innings. He escaped a two-on, no-out jam in the second and held the Rockies to two runs in the fourth despite giving up four hits — doubles by Gonzalez and Arenado and singles by Paulsen and Nick Hundley — to open the inning. Hundley doubled to open the sixth and took third on Brandon Barnes’ bunt. But Shoemaker got Wilin Rosario to pop to first, and left-hander Cesar Ramos got Charlie Blackmon to line out to shortstop to preserve a 2-2 tie.

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NO DERBY: Trout declined an invitation to Monday’s home run derby, opting instead to watch Pujols in the event. “A lot of people were saying I should do it, but it’s my decision,” Trout said. “I’m eventually going to do it. I just want to see Albert win it.” Manager Mike Scioscia, who is not a big proponent of the derby, did not factor in the decision. “I didn’t even talk to him about it,” Trout said. “Scioscia doesn’t like it, but he didn’t come to me and tell me I couldn’t do it.”

UP NEXT: Right-hander Garrett Richards (9-5, 3.35 ERA) will oppose Seattle right-hander Felix Hernandez (10-5, 3.02) at Safeco Field on Thursday at 7 p.m. TV: FS West; Radio: 830.

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