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Moseley, bullpen help Angels top Athletics

Apr 7, 2007 - 5:27 AM ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's bullpen gave Dustin Moseley plenty of help. Joe Kennedy received none from Jay Witasick.

Moseley and three relievers combined to allow just seven hits and Vladimir Guerrero belted a three-run homer as the Angels posted a 5-2 triumph over Kennedy and the Oakland Athletics.

Entering the season as the Angels' fifth starter because of injuries to Bartolo Colon and Jered Weaver, Moseley (1-0) worked six-plus strong innings, allowing one run and five hits. The 6-4 righthander struck out four without a walk and also hit a batter.

Moseley took the mound in the seventh with the Angels clinging to a 2-1 lead but allowed a leadoff double by Eric Chavez. However, Justin Speier came on to tame the Athletics, striking out Mark Ellis and rookie Travis Buck around a flyout by Todd Walker to preserve the one-run advantage.

Unfortunately for Oakland, Witasick was unable to match Speier's effectiveness in the bottom of the inning. Maicer Izturis opened the frame with a single and Gary Matthews Jr. drew a walk before Orlando Cabrera flied out.

Guerrero followed by launching Witasick's 1-1 offering over the center field wall, giving the Angels a 5-1 cushion.

Speier ran into trouble in the eighth, walking a pair before giving way to Scot Shields, who issued a walk to Mike Piazza before uncorking a wild pitch that allowed Marco Scutaro to score. But Shields avoided further damage by striking out Chavez to end the inning.

Francisco Rodriguez also made things interesting in the ninth, surrendering a single by Walker and a double by Buck with one out. But the closer retired Scutaro on a lineout and struck out pinch hitter Bobby Kielty to seal the win and notch his third save in four chances.

Kennedy (0-1) pitched well for the Athletics, yielding just one earned run and six hits in six innings. The lefthander, who fell to 0-9 lifetime against the Angels, walked two, struck out a pair and hit a batter.