Angels 3, Rockies 2
DENVER -- A single by Johnny Giavotella with two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth Wednesday night gave the Los Angeles Angels a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies and a sweep of their two-game series.
Second baseman Giavotella, who has thrived in late-inning situations, singled off closer John Axford (1-2). The game-winning rally began when third baseman David Freese singled with one out. He was lifted for pinch runner Taylor Featherston, whom the Angels selected from the Rockies last December in the Rule 5 draft. Featherston dashed to third on catcher Chris Iannetta's double toward the left field corner. Axford intentionally walked left fielder Daniel Robertson to load the bases.
Axford ran the count to 3-2 on pinch hitter Efren Navarro and struck him out. Giavotella grounded a single into left field, just out of reach of diving shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. Giavotella is hitting .455 (20-for-44) with 11 RBI in late and close situations.
Joe Smith (3-2) pitched the eighth and former Rockies closer Huston Street earned his 24th save in 26 opportunities this season.
Angels center fielder Mike Trout, who homered in the first, went deep again in the sixth to tie the game at 2, launching left-hander Chris Rusin's 3-1 fastball to center. The two homers gave Trout 24 for the season as well as his fifth career multi-homer game and second this season.
Those were the only runs off Rusin, who worked six innings and got 13 outs on ground balls.
Angels starter Matt Shoemaker's interleague scoreless streak ended at 21 innings when the Rockies broke through for two runs in the fourth to go ahead 2-1. But Shoemaker minimized the damage after giving up four straight hits to begin the inning.
Right fielder Carlos Gonzalez led off with a double. He held up on third baseman Nolan Arenado's deep fly, which sailed off the wall in center, and stopped at third.
First baseman Ben Paulsen and catcher Nick Hundley hit consecutive run-scoring grounders to put the Rockies ahead. Paulsen took third on left fielder Brandon Barnes' fly to right, but Rusin struck out trying to bunt and center fielder Charlie Blackmon popped out.
NOTES: The start of the game was delayed 2 hours, 7 minutes by rain. ... Angels RHP Jared Weaver (left hip inflammation) threw a bullpen session and is tentatively scheduled to throw a simulated game Saturday in Seattle. ... Angels CF Mike Trout declined an invitation to participate in the Home Run Derby on Monday at Cincinnati. Trout hit his 120th career homer Tuesday night and became just the ninth player to hit 120 home runs before turning 24. ... Rockies LF Corey Dickerson (left foot plantar faciitis) was going to run in cleats for the first time since going on the disabled list June 17 but rain kept him from doing so. ... Rockies RHP prospect Jon Gray is getting close to being promoted to the majors for the first time. In his past two starts at Triple-A Albuquerque, Gray, the third overall pick in the 2013 draft, is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA (12 innings, 3 earned runs) with five walks and 17 strikeouts.