Angels back up Ervin Santana in 7-4 win over Oakland

Reporting from Oakland — 

Amid all the double-play grounders, weak fly balls with runners in scoring position and general doom and gloom surrounding the Angels, there have been a few rays of hope.

One was on the Oakland Coliseum mound Sunday, as Ervin Santana, continuing to build on an outstanding season, gave up two earned runs and six hits in six innings of a 7-4 victory over the Athletics.

Bobby Abreu and Mike Napoli hit two-run home runs in the third inning, Napoli’s 22nd of the season coming on a 3-and-0 pitch from Vin Mazzaro, and the Angels scored more runs Sunday than they did in their previous four games combined (six).

Torii Hunter hit a run-scoring double in the fifth, Abreu and Hideki Matsui had RBI singles in the seventh, and relievers Jordan Walden and Kevin Jepsen each threw scoreless innings, Walden allowing two singles but striking out three.

Though the Angels are 91/2 games behind Texas in the American League West, they gained ground on the Rangers for the first time since Aug. 21.

Santana improved to 12-3 with a 1.80 earned-run average in 19 career starts against the A’s. In compiling a 15-9 record and 4.02 ERA in 28 starts this season, the right-hander has rebounded from an injury-plagued 2009 and given the rotation a huge boost.

“Compared to last year, his stuff is consistently better,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Everything from his command to his ability to repeat pitches is at a higher level. Though he competed last year, he didn’t have his best stuff.”

Santana, 27, was an All-Star in 2008, going 16-7 with a 3.49 ERA and 214 strikeouts in 219 innings. But he suffered an elbow sprain in the spring of 2009 and, after missing the first six weeks, never regained his form last season.

His fastball, which regularly hit 96 mph in 2008, hovered in the 90-mph range. His breaking ball wasn’t as crisp. His command wasn’t as sharp.

Santana went 8-8 with a 5.03 ERA in 24 starts, striking out 107 and equaling his 2008 walk total of 47 in only 1392/3 innings.

But Santana took a break from winter ball in the Dominican Republic and began a new exercise regimen, focusing on more repetitions with lighter weights to strengthen the smaller elbow ligaments and tendons.

And after admitting at times in 2009 that he was babying the arm, Santana came into this season with a new attitude.

“If you think about getting hurt, you’re going to get hurt,” said Santana, who has not missed a start this season. “I’ve been able to throw all my pitches this year, and I haven’t had any problem.”

Santana’s fastball hit 94 mph Sunday, and he struck out three. His strikeouts are down a bit this season — 144 in 186 innings — but he might be a smarter pitcher.

“I pitch with what I’ve got,” Santana said. “I think I’m a better pitcher because I’m throwing fewer pitches and going longer in the game.”

Scioscia said Santana is “maturing, understanding pitch counts and evolving into a much more complete pitcher” than he has been.

“The biggest adjustment was this guy was pitching at 94-95 mph when he first came up, and now he’s pitching at 91-92, which is plenty because of how he spins the ball and his command,” Scioscia said. “He’s made some big adjustments that are important.”

With Santana, the addition of Dan Haren in July, Jered Weaver’s emergence as an ace and Joel Pineiro’s consistency, the Angels have the makings of an excellent rotation in 2011, one that could be dominant if Scott Kazmir regains his form.

General Manager Tony Reagins will have his hands full trying to renovate the offense this winter; at least he won’t have to focus on an area so many teams struggle in — starting pitching.

“Our rotation is one of our strengths, and I don’t see any reason why that would change,” Scioscia said. “Going into next season, even if there are no changes, I think our rotation will give us that look we’re going to need on a daily basis to win games.”

mike.digiovanna@latimes.com