Lackey is bailed out by Angels

WASHINGTON -- John Lackey would have kicked himself, cursed himself, and stewed for a good while on the bench Monday night after his self-proclaimed “dumb play,” a throwing error that allowed Washington to score the go-ahead run in the seventh inning.

If only he had the time.

Three batters into the eighth, the Angels capitalized on two Nationals miscues and a clutch hit by Garret Anderson to score twice en route to a 3-2 interleague victory in Nationals Park, extending their winning streak to four games.

Lackey gave up two runs -- one earned -- and six hits in eight innings, striking out six, to improve to 5-1 with a 1.65 earned-run average this season, 10-3 with a 2.70 ERA in 19 interleague starts and 14-3 with a 1.90 ERA in his last 17 road starts.

Francisco Rodriguez struck out three batters -- all on full-count pitches -- and walked one in the ninth for his major league-leading 31st save, putting him on pace for 65 saves, which would shatter Bobby Thigpen’s record of 57, set in 1990.

And the Angels increased to 45 their major league-high total of games decided by two runs or fewer this season, improving to 32-13 in those games.

“It’s good for the closer, isn’t it?” Lackey said. “That guy is racking ‘em up.”

But are all these close games good for anyone else?

“We’re about winning here, man,” Lackey said. “Who cares what it looks like? We don’t really care what the score is.”

The dark clouds that produced a storm that led to a 70-minute rain delay Monday night broke up quickly, creating a brilliant rainbow beyond right field in the Nationals’ sparkling new stadium.

There was no pot of runs at the end for the Angels.

Through seven innings, they scored only once against starter Jason Bergmann, when Casey Kotchman singled, Howie Kendrick doubled and Jeff Mathis hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

With the score tied, 1-1, in the seventh, Nationals left fielder Willie Harris, who hit a home run in the third, tripled to right-center field with one out.

Paul Lo Duca hit a wicked liner up the middle that Lackey gloved for the second out, but the pitcher’s off-balance throw sailed past third baseman Chone Figgins, allowing Harris to score for a 2-1 lead. Lackey then struck out Cristian Guzman to end the inning.

“Right when it left my hand,” Lackey said, “I wanted it back pretty quick.”

Manager Mike Scioscia said the play “was a little aggressive, worth a shot.”

It was another Washington coverup.

“He’s making it look better than it was,” Lackey said. “I wouldn’t have had him with a perfect throw. The whole thing was a bad play. There was nothing positive about it. Let’s keep it real. I was pretty upset with myself. I said, ‘Pick me up, boys.’ ”

Figgins led off the eighth with a bunt single against Saul Rivera. Figgins stole second and took third, despite stumbling over second base, when catcher Jesus Flores’ throw bounced into center field.

With the infield in, Erick Aybar hit a chopper to second. Figgins initially held at third but went home with the tying run when the ball rolled under Felipe Lopez’s glove and into right field for an error.

Aybar hustled to second on the play, beating right fielder Elijah Dukes’ 60-foot underhand toss to the infield. That put Aybar in position to score the winning run on Anderson’s single to right-center field.

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mike.digiovanna@latimes.com