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Angels resume series vs. Marlins with Shoemaker on mound

Aug 26, 2014 - 2:39 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Rookie right-hander Matt Shoemaker tries to pitch the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim back into sole possession of first place in the American League West on Tuesday when they continue a three-game series with the Miami Marlins at Angel Stadium.

Shoemaker flirted with a no-hitter Thursday in Boston, as he won his third straight start, allowing just one hit over 7 2/3 scoreless innings. He also struck out nine and improved to 12-4 to go along with a 3.56 ERA.

Over his last six games (five starts), he is 5-1 with a 1.57 ERA and 30 strikeouts, compared to just four walks.

Shoemaker's ascension is even more important now given the season-ending knee injury to righty Garrett Richards.

"I think it's really uplifting," manager Mike Scioscia said. "There's going to be a lot of attention on our rotation obviously with Garrett not going to be part of it. You can't say enough about what Matty did."

Now he will be tasked with getting the Angels back on track after falling into a tie with the Oakland Athletics in the division on Monday, as Miami drew first blood in this series.

Giancarlo Stanton belted a three-run homer and the Marlins supported Jarred Cosart with plenty of offense in a 7-1 triumph. Christian Yelich went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI singles for Miami, which snapped a two-game skid and moved three games behind San Francisco for the second wild card spot.

"We bounced back after a tough series in Colorado," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "Cosart pitched a great game against a great team. We put together some good at-bats and scored some runs. We pitched and got big hits tonight."

Cosart (2-1), in his fourth start since being traded from Houston, gave up a run on seven hits in 7 2/3 innings.

"From the beginning I wanted to attack the strike zone. I got more comfortable as the game went on," Cosart said. "I got a huge lead early and that made it easier on me."

Wade LeBlanc (0-1), a left-hander who played for the Marlins during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, made his first major league start of 2014, but was hammered for seven hits and six runs in 3 1/3 innings.

"Wade started out okay, then he got away from the things he does well," Scioscia said. "Wade never got comfortable and it ended up costing him."

The Angels lost two of three to the A's over the weekend and have now dropped three of four.

Hoping to continue that trend on Tuesday, the Marlins will send hard-throwing right-hander Nathan Eovaldi to the hill. Eovaldi, though, has lost five of his last six decisions and is 6-8 on the season with a 4.06 ERA.

Eovaldi lost his second consecutive start on Wednesday versus Texas, as he allowed five runs (4 earned) and nine hits in five innings.

"I was leaving the fastball up in the zone," he said. "I couldn't get that slider, the really good one with bite to it."

The Marlins are visiting Anaheim for the first time since 2005, when they lost two of three matchups. They lost two of three home meetings with the Halos in 2011 and are only 3-7 all-time in this rare series.