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Proven meets promise as Greinke's Angels take on Straily, A's

Aug 8, 2012 - 2:44 PM (Sports Network) - Zack Greinke takes another shot at win No. 1 in a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim uniform this afternoon when they wrap up a three- game set with the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum.

Greinke, acquired from Milwaukee before the non-waiver trade deadline, was rocked by the Chicago White Sox on Friday to the tune of six runs and 10 hits in seven innings, but did not get a decision in his team's 8-6 loss.

He had pitched well in losing his debut with the Angels, surrendering two runs to the Tampa Bay Rays on July 29.

"It's just what you do," Greinke said. "You've just got to keep making pitches and limit it as much as possible. Four is a really bad inning. You don't want to ever let that happen, but you can't dwell on it. You've just got to start making your pitches."

Greinke could get himself right today, as he owns a 5-1 lifetime mark versus the A's with a 3.00 ERA in 13 games (9 starts).

Oakland will counter with flame-throwing righty Daniel Straily, who will be making his second big league start. The minor league leader in strikeouts, Straily did not get a decision against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, allowing just one runs and five hits in six innings.

Straily also struck out five and his 180 strikeouts between the minors and majors this season, which is more than any pitcher at any level.

As one of three rookies currently in the A's starting rotation, Straily's start on Wednesday will mark the 55th by a rookie this season, 27 of which have been wins.

"I think one thing that you see with Oakland is the talented young arms that come up and have pitched well," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "It always seems like they're rolling over good arms."

Bartolo Colon continued to impress on Tuesday by throwing seven strong innings and Oakland belted four homers in a 10-4 rout of the Angels.

Jonny Gomes, Josh Reddick, Derek Norris and Adam Rosales all went deep, as the Athletics snapped a three-game skid and bounced back from a 4-0 loss in the opener of this three-game series.

Colon (9-8) gave up four hits and an unearned run while fanning five. He has not allowed an earned run in his last three starts. Colon entered with a scoreless streak of 16 1/3 innings and went past the longest string of his career, 20 innings, set from Sept. 13-28, 2000 when he pitched for Cleveland. The only run he surrendered Tuesday came on a Maicer Izturis single in the seventh.

"For whatever reason, tonight we seemed rejuvenated," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "I thought we looked a little bit tired the last few days based on the fact we played so many long games, close games. We felt like we were dragging a little bit. That was a nice offensive effort."

Mike Trout homered on his 21st birthday, but the Angels lost for the fifth time in their last seven games. Erick Aybar added a two-run shot in the ninth off Travis Blackley in the battle between wild card contenders.

C.J. Wilson (9-8) lost his fourth straight decision by yielding nine hits and six runs -- three earned -- while walking five over five innings.

"His ball-strike ratio and his ability to repeat pitches just wasn't consistent," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He wasn't missing by much. No doubt he was around the plate, but just getting into the zone and putting hitters away became an issue. He had some high pitch counts and struggled through five innings."

Oakland has won six of its 11 matchups with the Angels this season.