"The key to Torii Hunter 's torrid August, the Angels right fielder said, has been not trying to hit home runs.

"I'm not swinging for the fences," Hunter said. "I'm trying to simplify everything, take what the pitcher gives me, hit singles up the middle and to right field."

Hunter had some explaining to do Friday night, because it sure didn't look like he was trying to line the ball up the middle or slap it to right field.

After a Peter Bourjos leadoff double, an Alberto Callaspo single and a Howie Kendrick run-scoring single, Hunter hit a towering three-run home run to left field to cap a four-run first inning.

Hunter then followed Callaspo's single in the seventh by driving a two-run home run into the bullpen beyond the left-field wall to lead the Angels to an 8-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in Angel Stadium.

"I closed my eyes and swung, man, I was lucky," Hunter said after his third multi-homer game of the season and 16th of his career. "If I go to a casino right now and bet on black, I'd win."

Hunter's power seemed contagious. Bourjos added a solo shot to left in the second, and 20-year-old outfielder Mike Trout, who was called up from double-A Arkansas earlier Friday, slammed a solo shot to left-center in the eighth.

Right-hander Dan Haren didn't waste the rare bounty, giving up three runs and nine hits, striking out eight and walking none in seven innings to improve to 13-6."