ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – Juan Castro had three RBIs, including a go-ahead two-run single, and Jacque Jones homered to lead the Minnesota Twins over the Los Angeles Angels 7-5 Monday night.

The Twins have won seven of their last eight games.

Carlos Silva (7-3) gave up four runs, eight hits and struck out six in 6 1-3 innings to win his fourth consecutive decision. Joe Nathan pitched the ninth for his 24th save in 26 chances.

Castro singled to right in the sixth inning, giving the Twins a 5-3 lead. Vladimir Guerrero homered in the bottom of the inning, but Jones led off the eighth with a shot to center field, increasing the Twins’ lead to 6-4.

The Angels closed to 6-5 in the eighth on a RBI double by Maicer Izturis, but Juan Rincon struck out Dallas McPherson to end the inning.

Torii Hunter made it 7-5 in the ninth with a two-out RBI double, his third hit of the game.

John Lackey (6-3) gave up five runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings, struck out six and walked two. The right-hander lost for the first time since May 9, a 3-0 defeat against Cleveland.

Darin Erstad hit a two-run homer in the first for the Angels, who had won three straight.

Castro’s RBI double in the fourth put the Twins ahead 3-2. Minnesota got two other runs in the inning on a double by Jones and a single by Justin Morneau.

Los Angeles tied the game at 3-all in the fifth on a hit by Adam Kennedy.

Kennedy was ejected in the ninth by plate umpire Tom Hallion for arguing a called strike.

Notes: The Twins improved to 24-27 on the Fourth of July; the Angels fell to 21-27. … The Angels have not committed an error in the last 14 games, tying the club record set from June 14-28, 1991. … The Twins lead the season series 3-1. … Angels OF Steve Finley, on the DL with a strained right shoulder, will take live batting practice in the next couple of days and likely return after the All-Star break.

AP-ES-07-05-05 0003EDT

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