Final
Athletics-Angels Preview
Apr 10, 2010 - 6:58 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS WriterOakland (4-1) at Los Angeles (1-4), 9:05 p.m. EDT
After overcoming a slow start last season before going on to win their fifth AL West title in six years, the Los Angeles Angels probably aren't panicking over their record yet.
On Saturday night, the Angels look to avoid their first 1-5 start in 49 years when they continue a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics, who seek their best start in seven years.
Los Angeles (1-4) dropped its fourth in a row Friday, losing 10-4 to Oakland (4-1). The Angels, who began the season Monday with a 6-3 win over Minnesota, are 1-4 for the first time since 1988. The club hasn't opened 1-5 since its inaugural 1961 season, when it lost eight in a row after winning the opener.
The Angels lost eight of 12 to begin last April before rebounding to win a third straight division title, but manager Mike Scioscia is frustrated with the way his team is currently losing games.
"We're down because we're playing bad baseball," Scioscia said. "It's tough to swallow, because we're a better team than that. We're not doing a lot of things right on the field right now. Consequently, we've been looking up on the wrong end of these scores these last four games."
Coming off a 10-1 loss to the Twins on Thursday, Los Angeles gave up a season-high 13 hits Friday.
Matt Palmer allowed seven runs - five earned - in five innings. The Angels' starting pitchers are responsible for all five decisions, posting a 6.43 ERA.
Jered Weaver (1-0, 4.50 ERA) will try to set things right Saturday. He gave up three runs and struck out six over six innings in Monday's win.
"Everything felt great," he said. "I had a little more velocity than in the past. ... I feel stronger."
The right-hander was 1-1 with a 3.05 ERA in four starts against the Athletics last season.
After finishing below .500 the last three years, Oakland hopes its ready to challenge again in the West. The team hasn't started 5-1 since 2003 when it won seven of its first eight games en route to winning the division.
The Athletics have scored 27 runs and are batting .296 to start the year. Rajai Davis and Daric Barton each had three hits and drove in two runs apiece Friday, while No. 9 hitter Cliff Pennington hit a three-run homer.
"We have a lot of confidence in our team and in each other," said Barton, who has six hits and six RBIs the last two games. "We're taking advantage when there's guys on base and we're getting big hits with guys in scoring position."
Ben Sheets (0-0, 3.60) will look to extend Oakland's winning streak Saturday. In his first start since late 2008 while with Milwaukee, he gave up three runs and walked four in five innings of a 5-3 loss to Seattle on Monday.
"It wasn't his best outing, but when he was done he said he's close to being right where he needs to be," manager Bob Geren told the A's official Web site. "I believe him."
Sheets missed all of last season following elbow surgery on his throwing arm. Nonetheless, Oakland signed him to a $10 million, one-year contract.
The right-hander has never faced the Angels, but Bobby Abreu, who is hitting .200, is 5 for 16 with two doubles and a home run off Sheets.
- Angels 4, Athletics 3 - FINAL
OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Davis cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .321
D Barton 1b 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .421
R Sweeney rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .269
K Kouzmanoff 3b 4 1 2 2 0 0 1 .280
K Suzuki c 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .208
E Chavez dh 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .227
M Elli
Apr 10 11:43 PM - AL
AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY HIDEKI MATSUI SCORED BOBBY ABREU
FINAL SCORE - LA ANGELS 4, OAKLAND 3.
Athletics 3, Angels 4 Bot 9, 0 OutsApr 10 11:42 PM - AL
AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
FORCE OUT BY KEVIN KOUZMANOFF SCORED DARIC BARTON
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, K KOUZMANOFF ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 3
LA ANGELS 3 TOP,8TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: K SUZUKI (.217, 0-FOR-3)
Athletics 3, Angels 3 Top 8, 0 OutsApr 10 11:14 PM - AL
AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY TRAVIS BUCK SCORED ERIC CHAVEZ
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 2
LA ANGELS 3 TOP,7TH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: C PENNINGTON (.333, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Athletics 2, Angels 3 Top 7, 0 OutsApr 10 10:58 PM - AL
AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ERICK AYBAR SCORED HOWIE KENDRICK
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, E AYBAR ON FIRST, J MATHIS ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
LA ANGELS 3 BOTTOM,4TH
DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: B ABREU (.227, 1-FOR-2)
Athletics 1, Angels 3 Bot 4, 0 OutsApr 10 10:11 PM - AL
AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY HOWIE KENDRICK SCORED JUAN RIVERA
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, H KENDRICK ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
LA ANGELS 2 BOTTOM,4TH
DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: J MATHIS (.286, 0-FOR-1)
Athletics 1, Angels 2 Bot 4, 0 OutsApr 10 10:08 PM - AL
AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY KEVIN KOUZMANOFF (1) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 2
OUT IN THE 4TH OFF JERED WEAVER.
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1, LA ANGELS 1
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: K SUZUKI (.238, 0-FOR-1)
Athletics 1, Angels 1 Top 4, 0 OutsApr 10 9:59 PM - AL
AT LA ANGELS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY HIDEKI MATSUI SCORED BOBBY ABREU
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, H MATSUI ON SECOND, T HUNTER ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 0
LA ANGELS 1 BOTTOM,3RD
DUE UP FOR LA ANGELS: K MORALES (.200, 0-FOR-1)
Athletics 0, Angels 1 Bot 3, 0 OutsApr 10 9:52 PM
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