Lackey gets first win as Angels beat Blue Jays 3-1

Los Angeles Angels' John Lackey pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during third inning baseball action in Toronto, Tuesday, May 20, 2008. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Aaron Harris)

TORONTO—John Lackey won for the first time since Sept. 28, pitching seven strong innings to help the Los Angeles Angels get a rare victory in Toronto with a 3-1 win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

Casey Kotchman doubled home Torii Hunter with the go-ahead run in the third inning, and the Angels snapped a four-game road losing streak in a ballpark where they have struggled in recent years. Los Angeles, loser of 14 of 16 in Toronto coming in, improved to 19-38 at Rogers Centre since 1996.

Making his second start of the year after returning from a strained triceps, Lackey (1-0) gave up a leadoff homer to Toronto's Brad Wilkerson in the first, then blanked the Blue Jays the rest of the way.

Toronto loaded the bases in the eighth, but Scot Shields escaped by striking out Matt Stairs on three pitches and getting Shannon Stewart to ground into a double play.

Francisco Rodriguez loaded the bases with three straight walks in the ninth, but held on to record his major-league leading 18th save. With one out, Rodriguez walked Gregg Zaun, Marco Scutaro and Brad Wilkerson, but Aaron Hill popped out and Alex Rios struck out looking.

Lackey allowed one run on seven hits, walked three and struck out six. He has gone 12-2 with a 2.46 ERA in his past 14 road starts.

Lackey's only jam came in the second, when two straight singles and a walk loaded the bases for Hill, who ended the inning by flying out to center.

The Angels loaded the bases in the first and second against Toronto right-hander Dustin McGowan (2-4), but the only run came when Garret Anderson grounded into a double play in the first.

Kotchman was thrown out at the plate on a bases-loaded fielder's choice by Macier Izturis in the second before Gary Matthews stranded three runners by flying out to center.

Los Angeles broke a 1-all tie in the third when Hunter doubled over the head of Rios in center and scored when Kotchman doubled down the left field line.

Matthews chased McGowan with a one-out triple in the seventh and scored on Vladimir Guerrero's sacrifice fly.

McGowan allowed three runs--two earned--on five hits in 6 1-3 innings. McGowan, who has won just once in his past six starts, walked four--one intentional-- and struck out four.

The Angels lost shortstop Erick Aybar in the first when he dislocated his right pinky while fielding a ground ball. X-rays on Aybar's hand were negative, but he will visit a specialist on Wednesday to determine the extent of the damage.

Aybar was injured when dove to his left to snare Rios' grounder, catching his finger as he spun around to make the throw to first. He came up clutching his pinky and wincing in pain.

Robb Quinlan came on to play third base and Izturis moved from third to shortstop.

Angels catcher Mike Napoli reached base all four times. He drew three walks--two intenional--and was hit by a pitch in the sixth.

Notes:@ Angels INF Chone Figgins (hamstring) worked out before the game and could be activated Wednesday. ... Los Angeles INF Howie Kendrick (left hamstring) took batting practice Tuesday but has not been cleared to resume running. ... Former NHL star Doug Gilmour threw out the first pitch.