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Angels continue series with visiting Twins

Aug 3, 2011 - 2:36 PM (Sports Network) - A few changes in the lineup card enabled the LA Angels of Anaheim to pull within one game of the AL West-leading Texas Rangers.

Rookie Mark Trumbo benefited from the new wrinkles in LA's lineup and looks to stay hot tonight in the second installment of a three-game series versus the Minnesota Twins from Angel Stadium. Trumbo clobbered a three-run homer in the fourth inning of last night's 5-1 win in the series opener and was moved from his usual seventh spot in the lineup to sixth.

The Angels opted to adjust to Twins starter Brian Duensing and the moves paid off. Torii Hunter also went deep and was dropped to third in the order behind No. 2 hitter Bobby Abreu, who struck out twice and was credited with an RBI. Abreu is still one run shy of 1,400 for his career, while Trumbo leads the club with 20 homers and 58 RBI, and has knocked in 21 runs over his previous 26 contests.

Trumbo is the sixth rookie in club history to hit 20 or more home runs and the first since Tim Salmon recorded an Angels rookie-record 31 homers in 1993.

"It's been a credit to Mark, he's worked very hard," said Angels bench coach Rob Picciolo. "He watches every pitch from the rail. He studies pitchers, he knows pitchers, he remembers pitchers. His defense has improved as well. He's worked hard on every aspect of his game."

Picciolo took over managerial duties after Mike Scioscia was handed a one-game suspension for Sunday's heated contest with Detroit. Warnings were given to both benches when Angels ace Jered Weaver expressed his displeasure with how Tigers sluggers Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen admired their respective home runs, leading Weaver to throw at the head of Alex Avila. Weaver decided to appeal his six-game suspension and his next start is scheduled for Friday's series opener against Seattle.

Vernon Wells and Peter Bourjos had two hits apiece in Tuesday's win, Anaheim's ninth in its last 13 tries. Not to be excluded from the victory scene, Halos starter Ervin Santana delivered another clutch performance by holding the Twins to a run and eight hits with seven strikeouts in a complete-game performance. Santana tossed a no-hitter in last Wednesday's 3-1 win at Cleveland in which he struck out 10 batters, walked only one and yielded an unearned run. He is 3-0 in his last six starts with the Halos going 5-1.

The right-hander only walked two batters in registering his 12th career complete game and third of the season.

"I am working hard and getting results," said Santana, who is now 4-0 over his last seven starts, with the Angels going 6-1 in that span. "I started the game throwing then I regrouped and started pitching. Every time I fell behind, I made adjustments. In the ninth, I was throwing gas."

It seems Los Angeles starter Joel Pineiro has been running on fumes lately, going 0-2 with a 15.00 earned run average in his last three starts. The Angels had won his previous six trips to the mound. Pineiro lasted only 3 1/3 innings in last Thursday's 12-7 win at Detroit and did not record a decision, as he yielded six runs -- five earned -- and seven hits. He hasn't struck out a batter in his past three starts and is 5-5 with a 4.91 ERA in 17 outings.

Pineiro may have a tough time getting back in gear since he's only 2-7 with a 4.33 ERA in 16 career games (15 starts) against Minnesota.

Minnesota fell to 3-5 on a 10-game road trip and watched Duensing get lit up for five runs and eight hits in six innings. The home run to Trumbo hurt the most for the left-hander and dropped the Twins eight games off the lead in the AL Central standings.

"These are crucial times we're in right now," said Duensing, who allowed five runs on eight hits over six innings to get the loss. "We have to win every series. If we start losing series, and a lot of games in a row, we'll find ourselves in a very deep hole. We've got to win and find a way to do it. We didn't get it done tonight, but if we can win the next two, we can go home with a little bit of momentum."

Jim Thome drove in the lone run for the Twins and is still three home runs away from joining the 600-homer club. Center fielder Denard Span returned to action after missing nearly two months with a concussion suffered against Kansas City back on June 3. Span went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base.

Minnesota has lost eight of its last 12 games and will pin pitching duties on Scott Baker Wednesday night. Baker had won three straight and six of seven starts before losing at Texas in last Thursday's 4-1 setback in which he tossed seven innings of two-run ball.

Baker is 8-6 on the season with a solid 2.86 ERA in 19 hits, and is holding opposing lineups to a .241 average. The right-hander threw seven shutout innings in a no-decision against the Angels on May 27 -- a 6-5 loss -- and is 1-5 with a 4.40 ERA in 10 career starts in this matchup.

Anaheim won a three-game set from Minnesota back in May at Target Field, but the Twins have won six of 10 overall in this series.