It's neither brilliant nor wretched. But it is there, which is the biggest victory the Angels can take from their 5-4, 12-inning win over the Red Sox on Thursday.

Santana returned to the starting rotation by throwing five innings and allowing three runs. It was his first action in an Angels uniform since suffering a sprained right elbow in spring training.

It marked an important step not only for Santana but also for the Angels , who will welcome their second All-Star-caliber pitcher back into the rotation Saturday when John Lackey faces the Rangers.

On Thursday, however, the Angels and Red Sox played a 12-inning affair that rendered Santana's return a mere footnote.

An Angels bullpen with the worst ERA in the American League allowed the game-tying run to score in the eighth, but little else. Torii Hunter made his second exceptional, game-saving catch in five days. Jeff Mathis drove in Reggie Willits from second base in the bottom of the 12th, and the Angels celebrated their ninth win in 11 games.

The Angels were quick to revel in their series-clinching victory because they know how close they came to losing. Leading 4-3 in the top of the eighth, Scot Shields gave up three consecutive two-out singles, the last the fourth hit of the game by 2008 AL MVP Dustin Pedroia. But three more relievers and a series of fine defensive plays ensured the Angels would not slip further.

With Jacoby Ellsbury on second base and one out in the 10th, Pedroia hit a shot to deep center field that was flagged down by Hunter.

Without Hunter in center, the ball likely would have rolled to the wall, and Ellsbury would have scored easily.

"He's a good player playing to his potential," Scioscia said of Hunter, who drove in the first three Angels runs with a triple and a double. "And when he is playing to his potential, he's one of the best players in Baseball."

The Red Sox had the bases loaded in the 12th, but Jason Bulger struck out Pedroia and then threw a sharp 3-2 slider to David Ortiz, who hit a dribbler a few feet down the third base line. Mathis raced from his crouch and threw out Ortiz (0 for 7, .208).

The Red Sox were just 3 for 23 with runners in scoring position and left 17 runners on base, which prompted Scioscia to say after the game, "We were dodging bullets all afternoon."

Although Santana didn't factor in the win, his mere presence was significant. His velocity - between 88 and 94 mph - and his off-speed pitches will improve in time, Mathis said.

"He felt good," Mathis said. "That's the biggest part."

Bulger, who won his first game of the season, agreed.

"He's going to get better and better, and it's only going to benefit the team in the long run."

NOTES

Vladimir Guerrero will take live batting practice Friday in Texas. Scioscia said Guerrero would then be 10 to 14 days from returning to the lineup. He has been out since April 16 with a torn pectoral muscle.

Boston reliever Ramon Ramirez got eight outs on 16 pitches.

Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo had five hits.

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