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Dickey tries to bounce back in finale with Angels

May 21, 2015 - 11:05 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - R.A. Dickey tries to bounce back from a pair of rough outings on Thursday when the Toronto Blue Jays close out a four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Rogers Centre.

Dickey lost for the fifth time in six decisions on Friday in Houston, as the Astros roughed him up for seven runs and 10 hits in five innings, swelling his ERA to 5.76.

"I felt like I had, at times, a really good knuckleball," Dickey said. "All of a sudden, it would get pounced on. A ball rolled through the hole and the next guy hits a home run and it snowballs. ... It can be really infuriating."

Dickey managed to break his 15 2/3-inning strikeout-less streak with three punchouts, but he has now allowed 13 runs in 11 innings of his last two starts.

"I don't have all the answers right now," said Dickey, who is 4-3 versus the Halos with a 4.06 ERA in 24 games (8 starts).

Los Angeles, meanwhile, will counter with righty Matt Shoemaker, who is coming off his best outing of the season. Shoemaker beat the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, limiting them to a run and three hits in seven innings.

He also fanned seven batters without walking a batter and improved to 3-3 with a 5.63 ERA.

"For the most part, Shoe pitched with his back against the wall the whole game," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "That was definitely the most consistent we've seen Matty."

This will be Shoemaker's first start against the Jays, but he did beat them in a relief outing.

Los Angeles won its second straight game on Wednesday, as Marc Krauss, who replaced an injured Albert Pujols, hit a two-run double in the seventh inning to propel the Angels to a 4-3 victory.

Pujols left the game in the fifth inning after being hit in the left hand by a pitch an inning earlier. He was diagnosed with a contusion.

Mike Trout went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and three runs scored for the Angels, who have won seven of nine. Jered Weaver (3-4) won his third straight start after giving up three runs on four hits over seven innings.

"I elevated some balls there and they didn't miss them," said Weaver. "I just tried to keep us in the game."

Chris Colabello, Ezequiel Carrera and Danny Valencia had one RBI apiece during a three-run bottom of the fourth for the Blue Jays, who have dropped nine of 11.

Drew Hutchison (3-1) allowed four runs on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks over 6 2/3 innings.

"Extremely frustrating. We want to win," said Hutchison. "We need to win, it's that simple."

The Angels have won 14 of their last 18 against the Jays.