Saunders’ win has edge to it

PHILADELPHIA -- Joe Saunders called his 1999 contract dispute with the Philadelphia Phillies, who drafted him in the fifth round from high school and failed to sign him, “water under the bridge,” but it sure seemed to float to the surface Saturday night, much to the Angels’ benefit.

Pitching with a nine-year chip on his shoulder, the left-hander subdued one of baseball’s top-hitting teams, giving up two runs and five hits in seven innings of the Angels’ 6-2 interleague victory over the Phillies in Citizens Bank Park.

Vladimir Guerrero continued his torrid streak with a pair of solo home runs, and Erick Aybar, who entered in the second inning for injured shortstop Maicer Izturis, hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth to help Saunders improve to 11-3.

“There’s always that competitive edge when you face a team that passed you up,” said Saunders, who is tied for the major league lead in wins. “It’s nice to come in here and show them what I can do, show them what they missed out on.”

Saunders said the Phillies offered a $150,000 take-it-or-leave-it signing bonus the day after the 1999 draft and gave him 10 minutes to make a decision. When he rejected the offer, Saunders said the Phillies never contacted him again.

The Phillies denied Saunders’ story, saying they made repeated attempts to complete a deal but were thwarted by Saunders’ parents and advisor, scouting director Marti Wolever telling the Bucks County Courier Times “we thought we had a chance to get him.”

Philadelphia lost its rights to Saunders when the pitcher enrolled at Virginia Tech, and Saunders eventually signed for $1.825 million with the Angels, who drafted him in the first round in 2002.

“To get drafted in the fifth round was a huge honor, but the way it was handled . . . you just want to forget about it,” Saunders said. “It was better for me to go to college, and it worked out for the best. I’m very happy where I am.”

Ironically, Saunders squared off Saturday against the pitcher the Phillies secured with their first-round pick in 1999, Brett Myers, who is 3-9 and has given up a National League-high 23 home runs.

Guerrero homered to left field in the fourth inning and left-center in the seventh, the second a shot hit with such authority that center fielder Shane Victorino didn’t budge as the ball left Guerrero’s bat.

The slugger has a major league-leading .446 average (25 for 56) with six homers and 14 RBIs in June, raising his average from .246 to .290 in three weeks, and he has a career .373 average, 31 homers and 84 RBIs against Philadelphia.

“What we’ve seen this week is certainly comparable to what we saw in 2004,” Manager Mike Scioscia said, referring to a September surge in which Guerrero hit .371 with 10 homers and 23 runs batted in to lead the Angels to the division title.

Guerrero’s 35th career multiple-homer game gave the Angels a 2-0 lead, but Saunders lost it with two out in the seventh, as Jayson Werth hit a solo home run, Chris Coste walked and Pedro Feliz hit a run-scoring double.

Eric Bruntlett followed with a sharp single to center, and Feliz was held at third. Bruntlett tried to advance to second, but first baseman Casey Kotchman cut off the throw from Gary Matthews Jr. and gunned down Bruntlett at second to end the inning.

Chone Figgins then singled with two out in the eighth, and Aybar hooked a two-run homer inside the right-field foul pole for a 4-2 lead.

Scot Shields struck out four batters in a scoreless eighth, the Angels tacked on two runs in the ninth, and Francisco Rodriguez closed out the ninth for his 29th save, sending the NL East-leading Phillies to their fourth consecutive loss.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com