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Angels-Orioles Preview

Aug 15, 2009 - 4:25 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Los Angeles (68-44) at Baltimore (47-67), 7:05 p.m. EDT

It's safe to say the Los Angeles Angels are getting increasingly confident with John Lackey on the mound.

After the Baltimore Orioles lit up another one of their top pitchers, however, the Angels likely won't take anything for granted as the clubs continue their series.

The Orioles look to follow a big night at the plate with another strong performance against Lackey on Saturday night at Camden Yards.

Baltimore (48-67) had been held to three runs or fewer in each of its previous five games before matching franchise records with 12 extra-base hits and nine doubles in its 16-6 rout of Los Angeles (68-45) in the series opener Friday night.

Every Baltimore player had at least one hit and at least one run scored as the Orioles handed Angels starter Jered Weaver his first loss since June 20.

Felix Pie led the charge, becoming the fourth player in Orioles history to hit for the cycle. Pie, a part-time outfielder who came into the game hitting .234, joined Brooks Robinson (1960), Cal Ripken Jr. (1984) and Aubrey Huff (2007) as the only Orioles to accomplish the feat. He scored three runs and drove in four.

"It probably makes him feel real good because he's put in a lot of hard work," manager Dave Trembley said. "And he's turned the corner as far as being a professional and being accepted in the clubhouse."

Angels manager Mike Scioscia, whose club had won its previous three games, was disappointed with the defeat but determined not to place too much importance on it.

"There's always going to be the occasional game like this. Weav's really been throwing the ball well for us," he said. "It obviously wasn't pretty, but we'll move forward."

Scioscia hopes the Orioles have a harder time figuring out Lackey (7-5, 3.88 ERA) than they did Weaver.

Lackey, who missed the first six weeks of the season because of elbow inflammation, went 3-4 with a 5.18 ERA in his first 11 starts - not what Los Angeles expected from a pitcher that's had 10 or more wins each of the last six years.

The right-hander appears to have turned a corner, however, going 4-1 with a 1.99 ERA over his last six outings. The lone defeat came Sunday, when he gave up four runs - two earned - in 6 2-3 innings of a 7-0 loss to Texas.

Lackey is 7-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 11 starts against the Orioles. He held them to two runs and four hits while striking out seven in eight innings of his 5-2 home victory July 2.

Baltimore outfielder Luke Scott, batting .149 with one home run and 21 strikeouts in 21 games since the All-Star break, has hit two homers in five career at-bats against Lackey.

The Orioles will hand the ball to rookie Brian Matusz (1-1, 7.04) for the first home game of his career. The left-hander held Detroit to one run in five innings to win his major league debut last Tuesday before giving up five runs in 2 2-3 innings and suffering a 7-3 defeat at Toronto on Sunday.

"I'm upset about it, but I know what I did, and that's more important thing," he told the Orioles' official Web site. "I know what I did wrong. I know what I need to do to improve. I need to stop being so fine with my pitches and just attack the zone like I need to."

Matusz was originally drafted by the Angels in 2005 but decided to attend the University of San Diego instead. He was drafted fourth overall by the Orioles in 2008.