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Lackey tosses gem as Angels rebound

Jun 30, 2008 - 12:41 AM By Jonathan Raber PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Fully healthy, John Lackey has re-established himself as the ace of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Lackey recorded a season-high nine strikeouts and Mike Napoli drove in the game's lone run to lead the Angels to a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the "Freeway Series" on Sunday.

Juan Rivera and Maicer Izturis each had two hits for the Angels, who avoided being swept by the Dodgers. They scored just one run during the three-game series.

Lackey (6-1), who began the year on the disabled list with a strained right triceps, hasn't missed a beat since returning. In his ninth start, he fell just short of his first complete game of the season, tossing 8 2/3 innings of three-hit ball to earn his fifth straight win.

The righthander has now gone seven or more innings in each of his starts.

"I think John wants to be the lead dog, he knows how important he is to our rotation," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Whether were on a winning streak or losing streak, he's gonna go out there and give us a chance to win.

"I enjoy big games, I enjoy trying to break losing streaks, things like that," said Lackey, who finished third in the American League Cy Young voting last season. "If you want to be a front-line kind guy, those are the things you got to do."

Lackey retired the first two batters in the ninth before allowing a single to Delwyn Young and walking Russell Martin. Francisco Rodriguez entered and promptly walked Jeff Kent to load the bases, which brought James Loney to the plate with the winning run on second. On a 2-2 pitch, Rodriguez retired Loney on a groundout to notch his major league-leading 32 save in 34 chances.

"Loney's a tough hitter, he's tough in the clutch, and fortunately (Rodriguez) got him to roll over one," Scioscia said.

Napoli gave Anaheim a 1-0 lead with a two-out single in the second. Juan Rivera kept the inning alive with a two-out single and Gary Matthews Jr. walked before Napoli hit a single to right field that plated Rivera.

Thanks to Lackey, the Dodgers' bats remained ice cold. The Dodgers, who have three hits over the past 18 innings, became only the fifth team in major league history to record a win without the benefit of a hit on Saturday.

"We've got to do the little things, take it one step at a time instead of trying to do too much," Dodgers third baseman Blake DeWitt said.

Los Angeles starter Derek Lowe (5-8) scattered five hits over seven innings, allowing one run with seven strikeouts and two walks.

"(Lowe) did a sensational job, we just couldn't do anything (offensively)," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.

Dodgers left fielder Juan Pierre was forced to leave the game in the bottom of the sixth because of a left knee injury. With Andre Ethier batting, Pierre successfully stole second base but shortstop Erick Aybar landed on the speedster's leg while attempting to apply the tag.

Pierre will be re-evaluated Monday.