[naught33]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Bartolo Colon bested Johan Santana, ending the Minnesota ace's 17-game winning streak by allowing just two hits in 7 1-3 scoreless innings of the Los Angeles Angels' 2-1 victory over the Twins on Sunday afternoon.

Santana (4-1) allowed only two hits himself, equaling his career low, but they were solo home runs by Vladimir Guerrero and Jose Molina. The AL's reigning Cy Young Award winner struck out seven over eight innings yet lost for the first time since last July 11, a span of 21 regular-season starts.

Santana's previous two-hit game, coincidentally, was also his last loss -- a 2-0 decision to the Detroit Tigers at the Metrodome right before the 2004 All-Star break.

Colon (4-2) wasn't on any kind of streak. Alex Rodriguez hit three homers and the Yankees scored 10 runs against him over 3 2-3 innings in New York earlier this week.

But Colon was sure ready for this one, retiring the first nine batters in order -- all on groundouts. Shannon Stewart's line-drive single leading off the fourth inning was the first ball to leave the infield.

Lew Ford was the only other player to reach base until the eighth, on a fielder's choice grounder to third that forced Stewart out at second. Colon set down the next 11 hitters, leaving after an infield single by Jacque Jones with one out in the eighth.

Colon tried to glove the high chop by jumping off the mound, but the 5-foot-11, 250-pound right-hander appeared to land a little awkwardly on the artificial grass. After walking slowly around the field a bit, Colon was removed for Scot Shields.

Michael Cuddyer singled on a perfectly executed hit-and-run, advancing Jones to third. Pinch-hitter Joe Mauer walked, loading the bases.

In came closer Francisco Rodriguez, and pinch-hitter Matthew LeCroy grounded into a double play. Stewart hit his second homer of the year leading off the ninth, but Rodriguez retired the next three batters for his sixth save in seven chances.

Colon struck out seven in 7 1-3 innings, walking none.

Santana was nearly as dominant, save for two pitches. Guerrero, homering for the first time in 11 games, sent a 1-0 pitch soaring into the air with that powerful uppercut swing in the fourth. The ball hit about two-thirds of the way up the left-field foul pole, which in this stadium is essentially a yellow net.

Molina's home run was his first and just his seventh hit of the year. He hit Santana's first pitch of the sixth inning into the left-field seats to make it 2-0. Molina is 2-for-16 on this road trip.

[Tommy]

Everything comes to an end :D