WEST COAST BASEBALL Newcomer Ransom gives Giants win

The Angels walloped the Athletics, 10-3.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN FRANCISCO -- One-run games are becoming the norm when the Giants meet the Dodgers.
Cody Ransom, a newcomer to the rivalry -- he was called up earlier this month after dominating Triple-A pitchers with timely hits -- came through with the biggest hit of his career Monday night. He singled up the middle with two outs in the ninth, lifting San Francisco to a 3-2 win over Los Angeles.
"It was a lot of fun," Ransom said. "It's great to get a hit and help the team out. I was just going up to the plate trying to get a pitch to hit."
After Dustan Mohr's two-out single, pinch-hitter Damon Minor fell behind 0-2 to Guillermo Mota (3-2) before walking. Ray Durham also walked and Ransom got his fifth RBI of the season.
Ransom, on the opening day roster before going to Fresno on April 23, batted .309 (42-for-136) with 10 home runs and 21 RBIs in 36 games at Triple-A.
"My confidence is definitely a little bit higher. I'm just getting a chance to play," the 28-year-old Ransom said.
Giants gain ground
The Giants, who have won 12 of their last 13 at home, gained ground in the NL West race. San Francisco moved within a half-game of first-place Los Angeles by winning the opener of this four-game series that both clubs consider extremely important.
Barry Bonds hit a leadoff double and tied the game when he scored on Edgardo Alfonzo's single.
Bonds got a cramp in his right hamstring while running out a ground ball in the sixth, then spent the next inning in left field stretching his legs. He stayed in the game until being lifted for a pinch-runner after his eighth-inning intentional walk.
Padres 3, Diamondbacks 1
At San Diego, Trevor Hoffman earned his 368th save to take sole possession of fourth place on the career list for the Padres, who won for just the fourth time in 13 games.
Hoffman, who was tied with Jeff Reardon, threw a perfect ninth for his 16th save in 18 chances. Phil Nevin homered and Ismael Valdez (6-3) allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings.
American League
The Oakland Athletics weren't able to compete with the Anaheim Angels in the free agent market last winter.
They haven't done much better against them on the field, either.
The Angels have won five of seven meetings against their AL West rivals, including a 10-3 romp that kicked off a four-game series in Anaheim.
Vladimir Guerrero, who signed a five-year, $70 million contract in January, went 4-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs to raise his total to 62 and tie Boston's David Ortiz for the league lead.