LA Angels 6, Tampa Bay 3

Bobby Abreu homered twice and Peter Bourjos added a three-run shot as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3 in the rubber match of their three-game series Sunday afternoon.

The loss left the Rays a half-game back of the Yankees in the American League East heading into their pivotal four-game series beginning Monday at Yankee Stadium. New York dropped a 4-3 decision to Baltimore.

Abreu's solo homer in the first inning gave the Angels the early lead before the Rays tied it up in the third on a Kelly Shoppach home run. Bourjos put the Angels ahead for good in the fourth inning with his fourth homer of the year.

Abreu capped off the win with his 20th homer of the year in the seventh, giving him his first multi-homer game of the season.

The long-ball barrage made a winner out of Scott Kazmir (9-14), who allowed a run on six hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out four en route to just his second victory since June 18.

Jordan Walden recorded the final out for his first major-league save.

Tampa counterpart Jeff Niemann (10-7) continued to struggle. He surrendered five runs over 4 1/3 innings, and has been lit up for 31 runs in 19 1/3 innings in five starts since returning from the disabled list in late-August.

• Tampa Bay will play their next game on the road against NY Yankees. The Rays have a W/L % of .600 after a win and .603 after a loss.
• LA Angels will play their next game at home against Texas. The Angels have a W/L % of .452 after a win and .526 after a loss.