Abreu homers, Izturis is injured in Angels’ 4-3 win over San Francisco

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Bobby Abreu hit a two-run home run in the third inning, and Torii Hunter (double) and Hideki Matsui (single) knocked in runs in the sixth inning to lead the Angels to a 4-3 exhibition victory over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday in Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Utility infielder Maicer Izturis, who started at second base, left after three innings because of some stiffness in the middle of his back, which Manager Mike Scioscia said flared up on one of his swings.

‘He should be fine,’ Scioscia said. ‘He’ll probably be out for a couple of days.’

Left-hander Joe Saunders threw 4 1/3 innings for the Angels, giving up three runs and seven hits, striking out six and walking three, his highlight coming in the fourth inning, when he struck out Buster Posey, Nate Schierholtz and Travis Ishikawa to escape a bases-loaded, no-outs jam.

But Saunders was unable to get out of a similar situation in the fifth inning when Giants catcher Bengie Molina, with the bases loaded and no outs, lined a three-run double over the head of left fielder Juan Rivera to give San Francisco a 3-2 lead.

‘In the fourth inning he was terrific, and his stuff looked good,’ Scioscia said. ‘But some things got away from him in the fifth. He couldn’t put some guys away, and he put one over the heart of the plate to Bengie. He didn’t finish as strong as we would have liked.’

Scioscia liked what he saw from three of his front-line relievers, though. Kevin Jepsen retired the side in order and struck out one in the seventh inning; Scot Shields, pitching on back-to-back days for the first time this spring, did not allow a hit in a scoreless eighth; and Fernando Rodney struck out two of three in the ninth for the save.

All three right-handers were slowed earlier in camp, Jepsen by concerns about the shoulder tendinitis he had last September, Shields by a left knee that required season-ending surgery last June, and Rodney by sore shins.

‘They all came into spring training having to work through some issues,’ Scioscia said. ‘They all have, and it was good to see them out there today.’

-- Mike DiGiovanna, reporting from Tempe, Ariz.